Cyclists!

Never. Always come across lovely cyclists- they often appreciate the dangers of cars on the road. In fact all we met today called out to ask if it was okay to pass
 
Silent Cheetahs!..Hate the bloody things! Although this year I've had 2 let me know they were there so things must be improving
 
I'm a tad confused I understand that if the horse were spooking, galloping or whatever into the path of the cyclist that there would be an issue but from what I know and can gather both of the aforementioned mares spook away from the cyclist and in my case she stops when at a 'safe distance' from the horse eating push bike and stands quietly and watches it pass and she's getting better each time it happens. I don't think its fair to ban a 6yr old from from hacking regularly for stropping and being spooked? Or are you referring to horses that would blind bolt away from the cyclist only? Not wanting to start anything btw just think ive got the wrong end of the stick lol
 
My mare also stops which is why I cant understand why she shouldnt be allowed on a bridleway either?

She doesnt go for miles uncontrollably she gallops a few strides to get away from her fright and I stop her and make her wait. I dont see the issue with that.

But that means she isnt fit to be there.

I dont think there is anything wrong with what your horse does either.
 
'numerous times have ended up with my mare galloping off at a million miles an hour'
We clearly have different ideas on what remaining in control is, if you think the above is a horse under control.
'cyclists are afraid to go past me after her outburst even when I have her stood nicely under control' which implies she is not always under control.
 
But I can and always do stop. In control.

I cannot read her mind so dont know she is going to do it. When she does it I can stop. End of.

If you cant understand that no horse can actually run at a million miles an hour and phrases can exaggerate something then so be it. But I will not stop riding my mare because you dont like a phrase I have used.
 
I have no problem with individual cyclists, or small groups, but I do have problems with the random large groups of road racers. We have a few 'training' round our way and they are a nightmare, they will come past in a group of six or more, taking up the whole road, often whooping and screaming (yes they actually do that!), often so close to the horse that they nearly hit my foot. This to me is the height of rudeness, and against the highway code, as well as being completely stupid and dangerous to them!
 
Pixxie, I have no issue with horses spooking. But I think if you know they gallop off (rather than that silly stride forward many do) then no, they shouldn't be. Or, ime the rider, rather than the horse, shouldn't be.
 
Cyclists when I'm out on horse in Herts are very good re him, always alert me before they pass. But I do have many issues with them in London when I'm on foot or in car. They are mad. Best one was when I was crossing on Pelican green light. One broke traffic red light, whizzed passed me so close he almost touched my nose. I shouted @Oi! etc. He told me to @@@ off. Lycra louts.
 
I have never forgotten, or forgiven, the 30+ cyclists who overtook the, fortunately, truly bombproof mare that we had just bought and were hacking home along an A-road one Sunday morning. They hurtled past whooping and hollering, getting as close to her as they could and, in fact, surrounding her, in spite of the fact that there was a car with hazard lights immediately in front of her and a walker on the outside of her. The bl00dy cydlists didn't seem to realise that if she ran amok, they were in at least as much danger as she was of being squashed.
She lived up to her reputation and didn't turn a hair. It was a different matter though, as we passed a field of cows.
 
I'm sure you can stop ha, my concern is for who or whatever happens to be in your path before that happens. You say yourself you don't know when its going to happen, so what if you happen to be passing a child on a pony when you gallop off? Or someone on foot a few metres infront of you? If it were me, I'd develop eyes in the back of my head if I knew a horse galloped off at certain stimuli. I couldn't live with myself if I caused an accident that could have been prevented to a third party.
 
I live in Cambridge so plenty of cyclists here, most of ours are pretty good actually, although some do come up rather close which confuses me since I think it is common knowledge you should avoid a horse's back end, well any large animal really.. don't think they need to slow down really if they are suitably far away, but it would probably be polite to depending on the situation.
 
FestiveG said:
I have no problem with individual cyclists, or small groups, but I do have problems with the random large groups of road racers. We have a few 'training' round our way and they are a nightmare, they will come past in a group of six or more, taking up the whole road, often whooping and screaming (yes they actually do that!), often so close to the horse that they nearly hit my foot. This to me is the height of rudeness, and against the highway code, as well as being completely stupid and dangerous to them!
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Road racing, or those training are an issue. This is why the BHS is working with the governing body of cycling. Guess all parties want to avoid litigation/press between these road users.

Personally find off road cyclists, and recreational cyclists no issue. Ignorant road racers are a different matter.
 
Groups racing en masse (rather than individually & spread out) should be redirected into ditches, not all, but the 'we own the road' types.
 
mtj said:
Road racing, or those training are an issue. This is why the BHS is working with the governing body of cycling. Guess all parties want to avoid litigation/press between these road users.

Personally find off road cyclists, and recreational cyclists no issue. Ignorant road racers are a different matter.
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yes i agree! Is it a case those out on their own are trying to make a certain time or something and that is why they wont slow or stop and pull in to let you pass in a car and dont slow themselves to pass horses? I emailed a local cycling club about it, very nicely i might add, and got no reply.
 
perfect11s said:
I would be banned if I drove a car like these lawless turds cycle!! why is they put lycra on and instantly they look and ride like idiots or BMW drivers???? about time these millitant muppets abided by the hiway code ...
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Yes! It's always the lycra clad serious cyclist types isn't it!
kids/families/couples out for a tootle generally at least try to be sensible - but the grown men cycling club types seem to have a chip on their shoulder regarding all other road/bridle path users, one had a go an an elderly friend recently as she was unable to move her mobility scooter quickly enough and he had to slow down. Anyone over the age of twelve ought really be on a motorcycle anyway.... or better still a horse.
 
We saw Santa on a bicycle today, our 8 year old lad riding our cob mare, me lead reining as we were on the main A road to get back to the yard.

Me a bit soggy in jeans and rigger boots, after traversing flood water out on the hack. Muddy cob legs all washed clean after our paddle.

Didn't bat an eyelid at floods or Santa. Good girl.

We see plenty of cyclists and most give a holler or slow up, but I usually see them before they get close and shout Hello, so trusty steed has a chance to look who I'm calling too and not get suprised.
 
im quite lucky in that fox tends to notice them before i do. ive have a few come up behind us so fast and over take and i think the only reason fox gets a fright is because i do and jump in the saddle!
 
Hi,

This may have already have been said but in general I don't have a problem with cyclists. I met one today in the woods who stopped for us - big no-no for ponio (stopped bikes are scary monsters). I thanked him for stopping and wished him a merry christmas and sat back as ponio went naught to spook-gallop in 2.0 secs. Not his fault (cyclist) - there's plenty of horses at the yard who don't give cycles a second glance.

Generally I find cyclists and motorbikers the most courteous - seeing as they understand how it is to be a minority on the road. But every horse/pony is different and bikers can't be expected to know the difference TBF.

:D
 
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Not ever had a problem with a single one. All the guys and girls around here are fine and anyway, bikes don't worry Ned, not even big 'herds' of them and if he did worry, then that's my problem to sort out, we can't expect them to not ride, just because we want to.


And let me add - my brother and father are "lycra-clad types" so please, don't tar them all with one brush. They would never do anything to upset anyone else and know very well how to act around horses and it wasn't because I told them.
 
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Nah said:
Not ever had a problem with a single one. All the guys and girls around here are fine and anyway, bikes don't worry Ned, not even big 'herds' of them and if he did worry, then that's my problem to sort out, we can't expect them to not ride, just because we want to.


And let me add - my brother and father are "lycra-clad types" so please, don't tar them all with one brush. They would never do anything to upset anyone else and know very well how to act around horses and it wasn't because I told them.
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I agree - it does depend on your own horse/pony and how they relate to the 'scary' bike. Not all motorists know how to deal with meeting a horse or pony on the road, even those who 'do the right thing' may not be. For example I was riding a friends Shire horse this time last year - a young lad in a car overtook us very steadily and courteously - however his car had a big-bore exhaust which put-putted and spooked the horse.

Can't do right for doing wrong or so the saying goes. :rolleyes:
 
The road our yard leads off is on a 2 mile downhill stretch with an S bend on. The lycra clad brigade free wheel down the hill at stupid speeds and cannot brake quick enough especially on the S bend.
It was a big problem with my youngest who reared a few times in the road when they came hurtling round the S bend towards him slamming their breaks on. With time he's got used to them thankfully.
 
I find that it is the fact that cycles are not heard and suddenly appear from behind causing a horse to jump forward or try to turn their head to see what it is.

Around here we get a lot of cyclists (good steep hills) majority hadn't a clue about passing horses and were clueless that a horse could possibly either run off or, double barrel them.
I had a talk with one of the cyclists and explained the problem and he put a notice up on the club and it was also put in the newsletter. This made a big difference and now majority of cyclists will, when several yards behind call out "Cyclist" this tells the horses there is something behind and there is no reaction.
 
Would rather they came past making some noise than sliently, as although I do very regular shoulder checks inevitably they appear around a bend just after I have looked and don't see them until pony has tensed or they are flying by.

Generally don't have a problem with cyclists.

Did have cause to speak to a couple of young lads the other week. Friend and I hacking through local village when a boy on a BMX flew past on our left on the pavement, closely followed by his mate on a scooter.

Was amazed neither horse spooked as they came out of no where and were really close to us.

They stopped not far ahead of us as boy had to adjust his bike seat so I called out for them to wait. Had a nice little chat with them just asking them to call out if they had to pass a horse next time as they could have spooked them and 1/2 tonne of horse jumping on them wouldn't be good. Another horse might not have been so calm etc.

They were genuinely apologetic and hadn't a clue they had done anything wrong and said they would be more careful in future.

Glad I stopped them now :)
 
I have to say I don't tend to have a problem the one man/woman pleasure rider or family taking kids out ont heir bike. But around us the roads are often used for the local cycling club training or road races and you can often get 20 of them 3 or 4 abreast hurtling towards you, no consideration from any of them, and they can often be heard shouting "bl**dy Horses again keep going".
 
winkles said:
Competitive cyclists however :mad: seem to ride in packs and silently! They train on the roads here and are forever sweeping round said bends at full speed into ponio's backside :mad: he was usually v. well behaved but occasionally it would all get too much and he would be spooked - never did blame the poor sod!
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Yup, it's the competitive ones I'm talking about. We get them a lot round here and I think I must of only ever had one slow down for me in the year I've been hacking around that yard. Of course they're not all lunatics, but I have the fair share of speed demons whilst hacking:rolleyes:
 
Never had a problem with cyclists, they are normally very considerate.

Helps that my horse likes cyclists due to hacking with OH on his bike. I'd recommend doing this to anyone who has a slightly bike phobic horse. Get your cyclist to carry polos too and vary whether he rides infront, behind or alongside, you will never have a problem again. My mare loves racing the OH up a hill! In fact the biggest problem we have is keeping her a safe distance from the bike!
 
The problem is of course that they 'appear' to be speeding past when in actual fact they will be doing in the region of 15 - 20 mph on the straight and up to perhaps 35mph on a steep descent (possibly 5mph more for the very brave!). So still slower than any car would go past.
There are generally problems of intolerance for all users - walkers, horse riders, mountain bikers, road cyclists, trail bikers, 4x4's etc. We are all out enjoying what we do but the other party perhaps percieves it to be irritating in some way and that is where the complaints start. I think we all need to just get on with it as we do not necessarily have the information or knowledge to know how to behave around horses or cyclists etc.
Yes, there will be some cyclists that will apprently whizz past horses - perhaps they do not think there would be a problem because the bike makes no noise - on the flip side some drivers feel that it is ok to skim past cyclists and that is ok. Some walkers I know are totally alarmed at having horses trot past them on a bridleway because they are scared by such big animals and feel that horse riders should pull over out of the way so walkers are not forced to walk closely by them.
It is horses for courses I am afraid and we should look at it from others perspectives and stop grumbling generally about other peoples passions - whatever they are.
 
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