Choose your own hacking etiquette adventure!

Caol Ila

Caol Ila

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Let's say you're on a fast hack and you catch up to riders travelling a lot slower than you are. You don't know their horses or what they are like. You don't know why they are walking while you are trotting/cantering. Do you (a) fly past them and figure it's their job to keep their horses under control while you race ahead (b) ask if it's okay for you to fly past and race ahead, but the answer could be no, in which case, then what? (c) rein in your horse and go at their pace (d) wait for a fork in the trail so you can go in a different direction or (e) hope they go in a different direction.

The choice is yours!
 
I was editing in a corollary just as ycbm posted. Yes, ask them what they want, but if they say they would rather you not fly past and race ahead, do you shelve your fast hacking plans until you can pick up a different trail?
 
Caol Ila said:
I was editing in a corollary just as ycbm posted. Yes, ask them what they want, but if they say they would rather you not fly past and race ahead, do you shelve your fast hacking plans until you can pick up a different trail?
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You ask them to halt, pass, increase speed while looking over your shoulder to make sure their horse isn't kicking off, then ride off into the sunset.

Seriously, this happens every time I hire the local farm ride.
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Caol Ila said:
Yes, ask them what they want, but if they say they would rather you not fly past and race ahead, do you shelve your fast hacking plans until you can pick up a different trail?
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Yes.

Flying past a rider or riders who have asked you not to is rude.

Or you can canter straight between them and ride off while calling out over your shoulder 'Learn to ride, ladies, learn to ride' while the young horse you've just passed turns itself inside out...:oops:.

This was a notable lady polo player, apparently, but then polo players are all bonkers.
 
Caol Ila said:
Cool. I'm not the fast one, by the way. I may have introduced some children in the park to new words, though. Sorry, kids.
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Last year I was riding a very inexperienced horse on a fun ride, wearing a BE number bib with a car L plate front and rear. As I was passing an optional jump, several people jumped it. Mindless idiots are everywhere!
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In this case, myself and friend were bimbling down the trail, decked out in hi-viz like it was going out of style, and suddenly my horse shot forwards like he was in a rocket launcher. I pulled him up and looked over my shoulder to see what had spooked him. Another rider was flying towards us at a harness-racing trot. She stayed in trot until I said "For f*ck's sake!" Loudly enough for the entire park to hear, and turned my horse sideways across the trail, which forced her to walk.
 
ycbm said:
Last year I was riding a very inexperienced horse on a fun ride, wearing a BE number bib with a car L plate front and rear. As I was passing an optional jump, several people jumped it. Mindless idiots are everywhere!
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I deliberately don’t go on jumping fun rides based on past experiences of other riders. But if I did, I’d think following the course and jumping the jumps under control was reasonable.

Passing slower riders under control.

I’d not expect very novice horses to be on a jumping fun ride.

And I’d expect the more novice non jumping horses to stay well away from the jumps if horses jumping was going to upset them.

If a horse wasn’t okay with others passing snd jumping (and some aren’t) I’d not take on a fun ride.

I avoid fun rides as lots of people charging about over fences isn’t my idea of fun. I prefer the endurance rides / EGB pleasure rides where most pass politely under control.
 
Caol Ila said:
In this case, myself and friend were bimbling down the trail, decked out in hi-viz like it was going out of style, and suddenly my horse shot forwards like he was in a rocket launcher. I pulled him up and looked over my shoulder to see what had spooked him. Another rider was flying towards us at a harness-racing trot. She stayed in trot until I said "For f*ck's sake!" Loudly enough for the entire park to hear, and turned my horse sideways across the trail, which forced her to walk.
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I learnt to ride in Richmond Park. Where the hacking etiquette was to pass in walk. If both going same way snd want to pass, you slow to walk and request permission to pass in trot. (Giving the other party the option to stop instead).
 
Was it someone from your yard? If not I’d take a wild guess on who it was, I know one in particular like that from the area.
 
I have never done a fun ride. Not something we did in the US, back when I had transport. Gypsum was also slightly terrifying in group situations. Fin is a bit more sensible so long as he's not startled by people appearing out of nowhere, and he gets worried by people tailgaiting his arse. But he's happy to potter along at the back of a group at his/my pace and does not get wound up by people zooming ahead. Which is a win.

The rider in question did zoom ahead, and my friend's horse was quite upset.
 
I'd try and pass politely. If I know there's a fork I'd hang back and let them go whichever way and go the other. But I wouldn't offer an option to say no - I'm not obnoxious about it but I generally don't have time to hang about. I would keep an eye and ear as I passed though.
I once had a horrendous hack from someone trundling though. I was out with a friend, we'd been miles and my horse was just thoroughly on one the entire time. Bucked and half passed through the village and as we thought we were clear a girl we ended up behind a girl we half knew ambling along on a young horse. Normally we'd have ridden with her but she didn't need my plonker for company that day. We held back (sideways) and hoped she'd go straight allowing us to turn off and leave her to her hack. She was oblivious to us - we were well back but unfortunately she went right. We went on but knew we'd end up catching her up if we took our planned (quiet) route home - straight on was longer than turning right. So instead we had to ride up the main road. We decided plonker might be better if we kicked on a bit. Cue trot trot buck, so my friend (her horse wouldn't go behind) slowed down - you ok? Yep try again trot trot buck, slow down, repeat. By the third time I just called I think we might as well just trot you know. My friend was howling by the time we got back as she could just hear him squealing, breaking rhythm to buck and generally being a hooligan. I was a lot younger then and in fairness he was just very jolly if he'd wanted to I'm sure he'd have absolutely buried me much earlier ?
 
Dave's Mam said:
f) Pass slowly, wait until well clear & gradually pick your pace back up.
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The Fuzzy Furry said:
This, I also call out and alert them that I'd like to come past
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This & this.

I always check back to make sure everyone is OK too once I've passed, just in case.

I wouldn't expect a rider to say I couldn't pass though - if they are out hacking, I'd expect them to be OK with being passed. I wouldn't expect anyone to expect everyone to change their plans for them, I'm afraid. What would they do if a horse and rider came towards them?

Generally, I would happily be passed and pass at a trot (providing horse and rider were OK with it) - but we've done pleasure rides so used to being passed and passing people at more than a walk - if in any doubt, I pass at walk.
 
I ask if its ok to pass them and go past, if they say 'no' I'll hang right back, assume they are a nervous liabilty and avoid at all costs! It's a pet hate of mine when people start shrieking panicking and demand other people change what they are doing. I wouldn't love it if someone flew past me and spooked my horse, be it on a bike, horse, dog whatever, but I don't say anything, I just get on with it, its up to me to control my horse. Happens all the time that's life.
(One of my horses does have a tendancy to be very dramatic about people rushing past from behind, but that's my problem not theirs) .
 
When I had my old horse, I would take different routes if someone passed me because she would go mental if someone was pulling ahead and I would not let her run to catch up. My problem, not theirs. So I would steer onto other trails. In this case, my horse was fine after the initial spook, but I was ticked off that the rider had snuck up on us, and then she didn't ask if it was okay for her to scurry past and take off again.
 
Used to have a lady in my old village who'd think nothing of trotting past you while you were doing somersaults. Wasn't the safest section of road and I got really fed up and swore at her once - very unlike me. She apologized but it was like she hadn't even registered I was there. It's like some drivers who seem to only see to the end of their bonnets instead of looking down the road.

I was taught from a young age never to pass at any speed more than a walk and only after asking politely. But then manners were drilled into us by scary RS instructors!
 
MuddyMonster said:
I wouldn't expect a rider to say I couldn't pass though - if they are out hacking, I'd expect them to be OK with being passed. I wouldn't expect anyone to expect everyone to change their plans for them, I'm afraid. What would they do if a horse and rider came towards them?
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I’ve actually had this happen. Youngish kid (12, at a guess) out on her own and she asked me to stay well back and not pass because her pony was scaring her. I ended up babysitting her back to her yard - a few miles out of my way - because I had a feeling the pony would kick off if it saw mine go in a different direction. Not ideal but no harm done, and they got back in one piece.

It’s just part of sharing public spaces that sometimes you can’t do what you want ??‍♀️. The same way that if I go to the beach for a blast and there are loads of off-lead dogs we either pick a quiet corner and just trot, or just turn around and go and do something else.
 
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Caol Ila said:
When I had my old horse, I would take different routes if someone passed me because she would go mental if someone was pulling ahead and I would not let her run to catch up. My problem, not theirs. So I would steer onto other trails..
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I used to hack one that lost the plot if there were horses in front in the distance or over took him. You had to turn off or turn around. He was annoying.
 
DirectorFury said:
I’ve actually had this happen. Youngish kid (12, at a guess) out on her own and she asked me to stay well back and not pass because her pony was scaring her. I ended up babysitting her back to her yard - a few miles out of my way - because I had a feeling the pony would kick off if it saw mine go in a different direction. Not ideal but no harm done, and they got back in one piece.

It’s just part of sharing public spaces that sometimes you can’t do what you want ??‍♀️
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Vulnerable rider that is scared, I’d do whatever I could to see them home safely. And I’d realise a few unlucky circumstances or freak incidents and it could be any of us!

But a non vulnerable rider that was out hacking but not prepared to be overtaken (assuming they hadn’t just had a freak loss of control), that’s not fair on others using the same public space.

I do agree though you can’t canter or gallop in public spaces without being considerate of everyone else in the vicinity.

[unless you are exercising racehorses then you have priority over everyone else at designated times.]
 
SEL said:
I was taught from a young age never to pass at any speed more than a walk and only after asking politely. But then manners were drilled into us by scary RS instructors!
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Generally curious here, but what would you do if you'd asked politely but the rider said you couldn't pass?

Edited: Shortened answer as decided some was irrelevant.
 
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I'm on the New Forest and do know a fair few that get grumpy if you so much as muster a jog within their horses sights! Which is pretty awkward, given the area I'm in is generally pretty large and pretty flat...

I avoid overtaking anyone, but if I had to I'd call out and let them know I want to trot past. If they said please walk, I will do. Then I'd wait until I'm suitably far away to pick up trot again, and just keep an ear out.

The trotting/cantering in the same New Forest as other people can't be helped though. If I see people having problems, I do slow but there's nothing more annoying than having x amount of time for a good workout, and it being foiled by other people ? Cyclists, walkers, dogs, other horses...! So I generally try to go where I think other people won't.
 
bouncing_ball said:
You can take them on social group hacks / jump out on hacks, box out to hack in strange places, practise having horses overtake them, Etc etc before doing a fun ride so it’s not a big deal for a novice horse.
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I wouldn't expect anyone on a fun ride to jump right beside another person who was walking past the fence, it's pure manners.

I was sure of my horse, she behaved exactly as I expected. The L plates were for insurance and as a potential warning to other riders. They were selfish, ignorant, idiots.
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