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???

I grew up around horses, am a pretty decent rider, and I wouldn’t trust any unknown horse and rider combo. My sister had a horse I wouldn’t feel comfortable walking past and you just can’t tell.

I do find horse riders to be oddly entitled though. I’m a keen cyclist and I do my best around horses, being especially careful to always be pedalling (no hub noise) and moving slowly which requires some skill. I find that plenty of riders are inconsiderate and unhelpful and then bratty about their horse’s needs. It’s a shared space so everyone needs to compromise.

I am honestly a bit astonished that anyone would not automatically slow down their pace and do what they can to not scare the horse. Its a horse! The horse rider can do what they can to keep the horse under control but it is an animal who could react unpredictably if scared.
Also I thought that most people who keep horses don’t have acres of private land and so they ride their horses on the smaller roads and lanes. They avoid bigger roads because of the traffic and the impact this could have on the horse.

Well in that circumstance, your children are the danger. Be more responsible.

I’m a life li g horse rider and agree it’s totally OTT to ask a jogger to walk past!

I'd do as they ask for my own safety, if nothing else, but if it were happening frequently, I'd probably be annoyed. (All theoretical, mind, because running is not my idea of a good time.)

I do tend to think that the person bringing potential danger into the public, be it car, dog, cycle, or horse, should bear the responsibility for ensuring everyone's safety (including their dog's or horse's well-being). If the path is intended primarily for pedestrians, they should be able to run without fear of being kicked in the head!

Provided the rider asked politely I would be really glad and happy to slow to a walk when passing a horse. I might even do it without waiting to be asked.

I'm sure the rider wouldn't be asking as part of any general sense of entitlement. They just have a particular problem. They're almost certainly trying to resolve itthrough training etc but they also need a little bit of understanding from others.

Even the best-trained and most placid horse can get freaked out by something or other. So you couldn't take any horse out anywhere in public without being prepared to accept the risk of having to ask others for kindness and understanding in the face of some or other situation.

It is such a small thing to be able to do. And the payoff is that you avoid causing distress to a lovely creature.

My children aren't the danger here. They pose no risk to any other path users. They're not potentially going to kick anyone in the head.

Kids have the right to run about and enjoy being outside.

Now clearly as a responsible parent I'm scanning for danger and would call my child back if I saw a horse in time. But it is not OTT to allow a 6 year old to run ahead to where you can see them.

Each horse is different.
If you can oblige, I would do so and the rider is correct to ask politely, and to thank you. All horses are young and inexperienced at one time .. before they become bombproof and not startle at new things.

If the path is intended primarily for pedestrians, they should be able to run without fear of being kicked in the head!

Completely agree.

How long ago did you ride? If recently you’d surely remember how even bomb proof horses can spook if something unexpected happens.

I’d never run past a horse (esp from behind) as I don’t want someone seriously injured. Surely this is just common sense?

When I was younger, my friend's dad had his windscreen smashed when a horse reared and came down on it. It's always made me really careful around horses.

The two abreast does annoy me though. I get the overtaking is a shorter distance but i find it easier to overtake when they're one wide. The other annoyance is the hi viz jackets that say polite notice but using the same style/colours so it looks like police ones.

I am a courteous driver and always thanked by riders though.

It takes a few seconds to walk and could avoid a bad accident. Horses are never 100% bombproof, as you should know having ridden. They are animals.
Trust me, if riders had access to private land they definitely wouldn't be on the roads. Every time you go out you are at risk. It's a small thing, and no you don't HAVE to do it, but let's face it it is the decent thing to do.

I’d slow down but I wouldn’t walk no.

A horse shouldn’t be put on the roads if it freaks out at all road users and that includes runners.

But they do. If I’m cycling, riding a horse, or even just elderly, your children running amok poses a danger.
Of course, in that situation every body would make allowances for your children and their safety. Why can’t you extend that courtesy?

This!

@sep135 - the problem with going single file on roads is you get a huge amount of drivers who pass very fast and very close to get past you. As someone who has experienced a nasty accident riding on the roads (my friend and I were hacking and a lorry forced his way past on a narrow lane, hitting a horse and running over my friends leg when she came off) I would always ride two abreast if safe to do so, unless I was riding and leading obviously.
I used to spend 6/7 hours a day riding out (freelance groom) and on very fit, big, sharp horses. It's not a risk worth taking.

Actually, thinking back to when I was a regular runner, I think I did just break into a walk automatically when I passed a horse. It is common sense, really, to assume that you may make them nervous.
We have to rub along together. All those of you who feel that you or your precious children should not have to encounter the merest possibility of self-regulation in the presence of a horse, why not stick to footpaths instead of going on the bridleways where horse riders have centuries-old rights to exist in public.

I stop running for horses. Seems the sensible thing to do rather than spook it, horses can be such jellies.
Mind you, I'm not arsed about my times or anything...I'm just out keeping fit and enjoying the fresh air and scenery. It's no skin off my nose to take a brief breather to let a horse pass.

You’re obviously not a runner or never followed a proper training programme.

It’s perfectly acceptable for runners to want to time themselves for pace to improve, it’s how training works… if I just went along at some slow plod pace I’d never get faster.

And to the rider, the risk is the child.

Despite who's fault it is, if anyone gets badly injured there's no going back from that.

Riders have liability insurance but that's not going to bring your child, the rider or the horse back if they're badly injured.

My child isn't 'running amok'. They are enjoying the paths as they are meant to be enjoyed. My child is well-trained to look where they're going, not to push past people and to show consideration for the elderly and those with mobility problems.

I'm not asking for special 'consideration' for my child by demanding that you and others keep dangerous dogs, bikes or horses away from them.

@ActDottie I'm a runner and I disagree with you.

And to the rider, the risk is the child.

The risk is only the child because you are on a horse!

Remove the horse, remove the risk.

So the risk is still the horse.

The risk is far more of scaring the horse into bolting/moving erratically and having to calm it down than of it kicking a human.

Horses wouldn't usually be on footpaths intended for human use alone, it'll be bridleways and public roads/byways where they have as much right to be as anyone.

Regardless of who has priority under the Highway Code, can you really not spare a few seconds to treat the horse with some compassion and kindness?