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???

Seriously? What’s wrong with horse shit? It’s pretty harmless stuff and great for your roses!

*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.*

A horse isn't going to injure you , the runner, if you slowed your pace when asked, briefly.

It is completely different from a dangerous dog. It isn't going to attack you 🤦‍♀️

It is not like a barrel being chucked down a hill.

Being asked to slow your pace for a few seconds = " not being allowed to go about your activity in peace "

Dear me. 🙄

Do you hate having to slow down for people crossing the road too?

That's not how it works. If you're in charge of a dangerous dog, you can't avoid your own responsibility by asking people not to run past you. Same for horses. You're still responsible, not the people proceeding with their activity and minding their own business.

Of course, ideally people would accommodate you and most will. But you can't rely on them doing so.

Why would non-horsey people necessarily have a clue about a horse's blind area and what is likely to freak them out? Why would they need to know this information? Also many runners have headphones in and would not hear anyone calling out.

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.

God alive. It hasn't got anything to do with being a nervy animal.

“Potentially has a problem with this”

Ffs you’re talking like it’s a conscious decision the horse makes. What part of the word evolution do you not understand? And why should every other inhabitant of this world have to change or disappear so as not to cause a moment’s inconvenience to a human?

And you’re still wilfully comparing horses - prey animals, flight animals - with dogs, who are predators, some of whom have been bred for aggression.

*That's not how it works. If you're in charge of a dangerous dog, you can't avoid your own responsibility by asking people not to run past you. Same for horses. You're still responsible, not the people proceeding with their activity and minding their own business.

Of course, ideally people would accommodate you and most will. But you can't rely on them doing so.

Why would non-horsey people necessarily have a clue about a horse's blind area and what is likely to freak them out? Why would they need to know this information? Also many runners have headphones in and would not hear anyone calling out.*

Well looks like it's either crack on run past the horse or ban horses in public.

And why should every other inhabitant of this world have to change or disappear so as not to cause a moment’s inconvenience to a human?

Yep. This.

It’s not always a question of competence or confidence. Horses aren’t machines, and even the most well trained get spooked sometimes by certain situations.

And although you can prepare a horse to go out hacking in public by training it on the ground or in an arena, there will always be the first time you hack out with a young horse or a horse you are rehabilitating.

The weather is so bad atm that many riders are choosing to ride on public roads instead of muddy, slippy bridle paths. Maybe op was just unlucky and met two young horses on her route?

I don’t understand why pausing during a run to ensure one another’s safety is so difficult or problematic? As a rider, I often pause to let cyclists go ahead of me or to let cars overtake. Surely all road users should be prepared for a bit of mutual give and take?

I think horses probably shouldn’t be on public roads given their riders seem to have such little control over them. It’s not up to pedestrians to be careful around an animal - the owner of the animal needs to be the responsible one. I wouldn’t expect a runner or anyone else on foot to be careful when passing my dog.

I once had a man scream at me that I should have dismounted my bike when passing his horse on a cycle path. I wasn't cycling like a looney. If his horse was that skittish, he shouldn't have been there. Shared space, people. I pay my taxes

Well please express that view to your local authorities so they can ensure that more bridleways and bridle paths are maintained and accessible to the majority of riders who wish to avoid people who are incredibly ignorant about horses and who, believe me, have no wish to ride on public roads if they can possibly avoid it.

*I think horses probably shouldn’t be on public roads given their riders seem to have such little control over them. It’s not up to pedestrians to be careful around an animal - the owner of the animal needs to be the responsible one. I wouldn’t expect a runner or anyone else on foot to be careful when passing my dog.

Edited*

Yeah ban horses.

You'd think runners were being expected to take up a crash position in the hedge with their eyes shut not slow their pace briefly.

It's hilarious.

Screaming at someone is never ever acceptable behaviour but sometimes you really can’t help a horse being skittish.

You should stop and allow the horse to proceed calmly.
Your problems/affectations are yours only.

I know, i understand that, I am always considerate of other path users but he was just so entitled (hate that) and made me feel I didn't deserve to be there. Its not my fault his horse was nervy!

@Bernardo1 "affectations" is the perfect term for some of the posters here who are so upset at the thought of giving up seconds of their time out of basic respect for an animal that dares be out in public.

I find this thread so odd. It's like a parallel universe.

It seems to me so self-evidently obvious that you should take responsibility for an animal under your control not harming others that I'm wondering if I'm missing something. And that this responsibility is not discharged by a hurried warning demanding that those around you change their behaviour to avoid the danger that you have created.

Of course, if you put others in danger, you should of course warn them so they can take steps to avoid it. But then to blame them if they fail for whatever reason to avoid the danger you yourself have knowingly created... honestly, I'm gobsmacked that some people think this is OK.

Of course, if you put others in danger, you should of course warn them so they can take steps to avoid it. But then to blame them if they fail for whatever reason to avoid the danger you yourself have knowingly created... honestly, I'm gobsmacked that some people think this is OK.

Gobsmacked you have elevated such a small compromise between runner and rider passing on a path to such an over complicated game of one upmanship.

It seems to me so self-evidently obvious that you should take responsibility for an animal under your control not harming others that I'm wondering if I'm missing something. And that this responsibility is not discharged by a hurried warning demanding that those around you change their behaviour to avoid the danger that you have created.

= person passing horse and rider 🤦‍♀️

Let's rephrase that...

'AIBU to think I shouldn't have to inconvenience myself in a very minor way to reduce the risk of an accident that could cause myself and others life changing or life ending injury'...

You do not know what the rider knows.

The horse may be typically bombproof, but have just coped with a chasing barking off lead dog, a rapidly approaching concrete mixer, drum spinning making an awful racket, shouty rumbly bin lorry, spooky child on a swing appearing and disappearing over a hedge... (all real examples btw) and have his nerves absolutely shredded.

The rider can feel those tense bunched muscles, the thudding heart, the flicking unsure ears, and know that the tiniest thing is going to spell disaster and they'd, not unreasonably, like to get home alive.

Then here comes you, your run is by far the most important thing in the universe so you don't slow down, why should you. You don't shout out, you're out of puff, you're chuffing along slapping feet and dressed in dayglo like some sort of animated hazard warning and sounding like a cross between a clapping seal and a dragon.

Horse sees you before the rider has chance, in his panic he leaps, spins, drops the rider on the tarmac and takes off, smashing through the windscreen of a family car of four, killing self, driver and passenger and leaving two kids orphans.

You're fine though. You aced your PB. Well done you. Off you pop.

If you don't want to offer courtesy and consideration to others, run round a track.

@Goldbar so if you was out walking or jogging on a bridleway and a horse rider came up behind you at speed ( gallop) and went past you without slowing down or letting you know you would be ok with that?

@Goldbar I'm gobsmacked that you seem to think it's an imposition for a human to make a miniscule adjustment to their behaviour around animals. You come across as wilfully ignorant about them and almost hostile to the idea of domestic animals being seen in public at all.

Do you also think you should be able to cross the road anywhere, regardless of traffic, because it's up to drivers to hit the brakes?

This thread has been a bit of a revelation for me.
I know very little about horses, but it does seem they are unpredictable and difficult to manage.
It has made me question if they are genuinely safe to be ridden in public around people who may not know what is safe to do around a horse.

It’s annoying but I’d rather slow down than be kicked so I always do it

If the path was wide enough and the visibility was good enough that they did not pose a danger to me in doing so, then yes I suppose so. In reality, there must be many locations which are narrow or have impaired visibility where it would be unsafe to do so.

Similarly with joggers/cyclists - if you jog or cycle very fast around a corner with limited visibility, you may knock someone down on the other side and cause injury. So it's up to you to take care, and imo that doesn't simply include shouting a warning as you go around the corner and hoping that they've heard you.

I don't have a particular issue with horses/riders btw - I actually quite like horses 😂. But I do have an issue with the suggestion that the onus is on the passer-by, who doesn't have advance warning or knowledge of the danger, to avoid the danger, rather than on the danger-creator to avoid potentially unsafe situations.

I'm equally vitriolic towards cyclists who speed past ringing their bells and expecting small children instantly to jump out of the way.