not about bikes but i want to know this....

[northwind]

Ah, the horse-riders are out, cool. QUestion for you- what do you prefer cyclists to do around horses? I've had so much conflicting advice, I know that pushbikes are quiet enough to spook horses, and the trails I use exit down a lane used by a local riding school so while they're docile horses usually, the kids are inexperienced and I don't want to freak them out...

1) Ring bell/shout a warning? If it was a pedestrian, I'd call "I'm passing on the right" or similiar so they know I'm there, is this a good idea?

2) Pass slow or pass quick? Quick is noisier and probably more likely to spook a horse, but slow is, well, slow.

3) Tailgate (pun intended) til I know the rider knows I'm there? Or just pass? Again, is it better to be past and gone fast?

The reason i ask is that I've been shouted at a couple of times for doing exactly what other horse riders have advised (I asked an instructor, she said make your presence known, and once you know the rider knows you're there, pass at a reasonable pace- then I did this past another instructor and she went mental at me for shouting, then had another go at me for passing too fast, then a third go for passing too close even though she knew I was there and hadn't moved across at all, and left only a narrow gap. The kids were fine but she was fuming)

Just wanting to not be trampled by a horse, mainly

I passed a horse today, and not only do I go past really slowly, but continue to do so for quite a few yards down the road.
I've ridden horses on the roads and it freaks me out, but to get a good hack in, along nice bridle paths, you just have to use the roads occasionally.

[fizzwheel]

I spooked at horse a while ago I caught it up on a quiet country lane on my road bike. I kept out wide and out of the way and just rode past it at about 12 mph, the horse jumped to the left onto the verge I braked and stopped, waited till the rider had sorted the horse out and I made eye contact with her. I then cycled past as I went past I apologised for spooking the horse and the rider said "Dont be sorry it wasnt your fault"

Your so quiet on a pusher, so making your presence known sounds a good idea, but I'm not sure I'd want to shout a warning it might be interpreted in the wrong way.

Bit of a minefield isnt it...

plenty of room slow down a bit and "hi" normaly acts a s a good warning/ i,m here

yeah i agree most horse riders will proberbly say dont ring bell, or shout loudly as it could scare horse but if the rider was vigilant they would have already heard or spotted you comming a hundred or so yards off and prepared horse for it and themselves. as mr DP will proberbly agree to is that the road near my horse is an extreamly busy one and when i did used to ride on the road i got used to checking over mu sholder every couple of minues just to check a big lorry was not on its way, my advice an that score would be a hi or hello and just state intention is it alright if i pass you etc... and ride past slowly, most horses that are ridden on roads are used to push bikes its motorised vehicals which cause most of problems(well all our horses where used to push bikes and alot of other vehicals being on a farm its just out on the road and not in their enviroment can cause anxiety , just like if you are taken out of your comfort zone you feel anxiety. )

I am hated by every group of road user. I ride a motorcycle, drive a juggernaut, own a Volvo and a Rover My landlady is an ADI and I wear comfortable work clothes to ride my bike to work.

As well as that I also post on another forum in my user name here and was gobsmacked that some prat last year thought it was funny to blow their horn at a pretty girl riding her horse over a road bridge above the M25. Surely the horse would be nervous enough without another ***** below

It is a pity they don't use their proper name so we could go round and give them a good kicking

indeed they may think its funny when they are not sat on top of the half tone juggernaught that is going to go mental. cos horses are dam strong and willfull especially when scared.