To think I shouldn’t have to stop my run to walk past a horse?

[Famousperson2023]

This has happened twice now. Out for a run and the horse riders have asked me to stop running while I go past their horse!!

I’ll put this in context- daughter rides, I used to ride. When passing a horse or pony I’ll go wide and slow, or stop and wait at a passing place on narrow roads (often while the riders amble up at a slow walk deep in conversation with their fellow riders, 3 abreast….and without a hint of thank you). When I’m out with our dog I’ll make sure she is on the lead while we pass. but being asked to stop and walk???

*Would you mind elaborating as to how a rider can adjust their behaviour to account for the fact that a person running up behind a horse has a high chance in resulting in an accident for the runner, the rider, the horse or all three.

Halting the horse is unlikely to help and could well make the horse more anxious.*

Yep, the only " behaviour change" could be 'don't go out in public.'

Cool.

I've run past horses in the countryside lots of times, smiles all round

Tbh @Allfur this conversation isn't about when YOU ran past horses.

You get the impression that when a runner is asked to slow down ( and clearly they're not always asked to ) it's about some sort of invisible one upmanship and not just safety.

@allfur you must encounter horses in a space where it is possible to keep a very very wide berth as there are few horses who would not be spooked by something approaching them from behind at speed.

Sunglasses, sorry I thought it was about people running past horses, I am a person

@Allfur have you RTFT? It's been explained so many times why it's down to the runner to simply slow down and give warning of their approach, and that the safest thing for the rider to do is simply keep going, slowly. Horses aren't machines, and if you're suggesting a rider dismount, that's the worst idea.

Absolutely. If you're in charge of a potentially dangerous animal, the onus is on you to anticipate situations where harm could be caused to others and avoid them.

Sunglasses, sorry I thought it was about people running past horses, I am a person

Yep you are right. Apologies .

It's all cool when you run past horses though.

They don't ask you to slow?
You don't mind slowing?

They " changed their behaviour" ?

Absolutely. If you're in charge of a potentially dangerous animal, the onus is on you to anticipate situations where harm could be caused to others and avoid them.

How?

Ok, so what is the rider supposed to do then exactly @Goldbar ?

Why can’t people just accept that bridleways are there for everybody to share and that with a bit of common sense and courtesy it is perfectly possible for riders, runners cyclists and dog walkers to co exist safely.

@Goldbar again, what would you have riders do - where are these places where they'll never encounter humans or animals? And why is it never down to the runners to simply show a modicum of common sense and respect for a large, sensitive prey animal by slowing down to a walk for a few seconds?

Surely a made up question. Keep away from anything that could hurt you.
Why would you risk getting hurt?
Horses are wild animals that have been trained and could easily hurt you.

I know some riders are ‘self important’ but why would you take the risk.
(As a driver, I get irritated when runners or cyclists run or cycle 2 or 3 abreast )
Keep safe - well away from horses when running.

Not as unpleasant as horse shit everywhere that riders expect someone else to have to deal with!

It would be on the horse rider if their horse hurt someone who was passing without interfering with the horse.

Its the same as if you walk past a dog and it leaps up and bites you- it’s the dog owners fault.

This only changes if someone intentionally interacts inappropriately with the animal (touching them or something). Jogging down a path someone has chosen to take a nervy horse down isn’t interacting inappropriately with the animal.

Horse shit is just half fermented grass.

If you don't feel confident doing this, then I'm afraid you have no business taking a large animal out into a situation where they might endanger the general public.

It's no different in principle to having a dangerous dog and I'm amazed that so many people seem to think it is.

People have the right to go about their legitimate activities (including running) in peace without being at risk of being injured by YOUR animal.

Oh for crying out loud.

Horses. Do. Not. Attack.

They aren’t bred for fighting, they’ve evolved to run away if they feel threatened.

Cars will almost certainly kill you if their drivers lose concentration for a second. I don’t see you complaining about them.

They're just going about their activity - running. They're not endangering anyone by doing that and they shouldn't be put in danger by the actions of others.

Is it OK for me to release a barrel at the top of a hill, shout "get out of the way!" and then blame anyone who doesn't jump out of the way if they then get hurt? I warned them of the danger, after all.

No, because everyone seems to accept that the onus is absolutely on the driver to keep people round about them safe.

Why are riders different?

They have the responsibility of keeping people safe as far as possible. Just as car drivers do, but don’t seem to realise it. Or, for that matter, dog walkers who could lose control and see someone frightened jump out in the road.

Completely irrelevant comparison. If anything the released barrel sounds more like the way some runners behave! But the riders are also going about their business, just riding. The horse is walking. Why is it okay for a runner to barrel past (to borrow your term) an animal that's not doing anything to them? As @CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau said, horses aren't going to attack anyone, it's simply that they are prey animals and running up from their blind spot is likely to startle them, however well trained and placid they are. What sort of selfish, insensitive, dare I say animal hating clod (there have been a few of those on this thread, same ones saying "get rid of all dogs" elsewhere) does that?

@Catsmere . But the runner is just proceeding on their way.

It is the horse that potentially has a problem with this.

Thanks @catsmere. I know this is just anecdata but I happen to be scared of dogs and have ridden a fair few horses who, even if they’re not scared of dogs, will get excited because the presence of dogs signals something like a competition, hunting, whatever. I will go far out of my way to avoid a dog but I would never blame the owner for it or think they shouldn’t be out with their dog. Some of these dogs have been bred to take down bulls. Does that mean they shouldn’t be allowed a nice little stroll or run about? No. It means their owners should obey universally agreed safety precautions. I always feel grateful and will thank owners who get a grip on their dog if it wants to jump, but even if I didn’t it would be an act of courtesy that contributes to everyone being able to use public highways safely and politely.

That’s exactly what the rider is doing by asking the runner to slow down.
If the runner ignores that request, they are the one behaving dangerously