George is scared of bicycles - help

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Gorgeous George

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George is a bit odd in that if a bicycle comes up and passes him either way on the road he is fine :), if my OH comes out hacking with me on his bike George is fine :) BUT if we meet a bike out in the fields or along the bridleway George gets all scared and spins round (thankfully he doesn't normally go anywhere).

He did it twice yesterday and we were out hacking with another horse who was in front who didn't bat an eyelid, and the second time he scared the life out of the teenager on the bike who had cycled past very considerately :(

I think I will need to get OH to come up on his bike and 'accidently' meet us on some bridleways. Just wondered if anyone else had any bright suggestions? I wonder if I am getting anxious when I see a bike now?

Thanks :)
 
Hiya, my mare went through a stage last year with bikes and actually had me off because of a bike meeting us head on at a bend, she span and went for home and I was still going straight !! - anyway I got my son and a friend or 2 to ride round her in the field, in the paddocks and anywhere else they woudl go with me on their bikes, especially the places where i knew she was most afraid of meeting them, in a controlled manner and when I was ready for them we eventually overcome it - she now finds bikes quite boring :0)) - Good luck.
 
S**ding cyclists!!! A plague on them all!!! (sorry anyone on the H&H forum who is one). The problem is that they're silent and you (and the horse) don't know they're there till they're right up your *ss and the horse has spooked.

Once I took my horse out of his field onto the road and a prat on a bike came down the road far too fast, frightened my horse, who then pulled away from me and hiked off back down the road to the yard. Stupid me tried to hang on and was pulled along, getting grazed elbows and knees and I was also bruised all along my rib-cage. And no, I wasn't wearing a hat or gloves or hi viz. Cyclist rode off and couldn't give a damn about my plight. I'm at a yard now where all that is compulsory, which is a good principle.

However, working on the principle that its better to have cyclists as friends rather than enemies (and also try to educate), whenever I'm out and see a cyclist I try to stop and have a chat with them and gently ask them if they could just spare a few moments to help me get my horse used to cyclists. Most of them are OK with this and they'll very willingly circle around a few times on their bikes and talk to the horse so he sees they're human creatures and not bogeys on wheels. I explain to them that horses (and riders) can't hear them coming up behind so if they see someone riding it might prevent an accident if they could approach slowly and just speak to indicate their presence.

Most of them don't realise that they give horses and riders a problem - however there will always be the odd few that couldn't give a toss unfortunately.
 
I had the same problem with my boy but it was ALL traffic ALL the time- blo0dy annoying! I stareted off leading him on busy routes if I knew i was going to meet lots of traffic, then gradually built it up to riding when it was quiet. It was after a nasty accident and i found having me betwen him and whatever was scary gave him confidence.
You probably only have a problem on bridleways as there is less space than on a road, my boy only tends to panic if he feels trapped and by spinning round he can see a 'way out' if you see what i mean! If you feel he is going to spin round focus on a point ahead of you beyond the cyclist and ride towards it, lots of outside leg and keep a really strong seat. Also turn his head away slightly and keep thinking "forward", we basically taught my horse that whatever happens he keeps moving forward. Also he tends to be worse at this time of year as the spring grass is coming through and he is a bit on his toes, hence a very exciting hack yesterday!!
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
S**ding cyclists!!! A plague on them all!!! (sorry anyone on the H&H forum who is one). The problem is that they're silent and you (and the horse) don't know they're there till they're right up your *ss and the horse has spooked.

Once I took my horse out of his field onto the road and a prat on a bike came down the road far too fast, frightened my horse, who then pulled away from me and hiked off back down the road to the yard. Stupid me tried to hang on and was pulled along, getting grazed elbows and knees and I was also bruised all along my rib-cage. And no, I wasn't wearing a hat or gloves or hi viz. Cyclist rode off and couldn't give a damn about my plight. I'm at a yard now where all that is compulsory, which is a good principle.

However, working on the principle that its better to have cyclists as friends rather than enemies (and also try to educate), whenever I'm out and see a cyclist I try to stop and have a chat with them and gently ask them if they could just spare a few moments to help me get my horse used to cyclists. Most of them are OK with this and they'll very willingly circle around a few times on their bikes and talk to the horse so he sees they're human creatures and not bogeys on wheels. I explain to them that horses (and riders) can't hear them coming up behind so if they see someone riding it might prevent an accident if they could approach slowly and just speak to indicate their presence.

Most of them don't realise that they give horses and riders a problem - however there will always be the odd few that couldn't give a toss unfortunately.
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I think your attitude to cyclists is totally unnecessary. As a horse rider, you should be keeping an eye out for what's coming up the road in either direction anyway, not just riding along on a buckle end having a chat. You have as much responsibility as any other road user. I do agree that cycles are quiet but if you're keeping an eye out generally, you should see them coming from a fair distance in most cases. I cycle, my dad cycles (both competitively, not just pottering around on a sunday afternoon) and all of his cycle club make the effort to slow down for horses. Most have bells on their bikes which they will sound to warn you of their approach. If you have seen them coming then use hand signals to ask them to slow down or stop - only the most ignorant would ignore this. In most cases, they will be happy to because they don't know how the horse will react when they come past. I have yet to meet a cyclist, whilst horse riding, who hasn't slowed down when requested. As they come past, just explain to them why you've asked them to slow down and thank them. As with every type of road user, there will be some who are ignorant - just as there are some ignorant car drivers, some truck drivers, and *gasps* even some ignorant horse riders (they all live near my yard I think). Believe it or not, your horse is not the centre of a cyclist's world and you cannot expect them all to know you want them to slow down.

In reply to GG - sorry for the rant and getting off topic. The suggestions of getting people out on bikes to "surprise" you on hacks is a good one. It might also be worth asking any cyclists whether they would mind getting off and walking past George; that way he might realise they're not some sort of human/bike hybrid and are actually just people. Can you ask some other people from your yard to meet you out on bikes and get them to bring treats (food bribery!) which they could feed to George... then he may start to associate bikes with nice things? I'm sure you'll get it sorted :)
 
Ru is the same about bikes,especially if they are coming towards her. I think it is the fact that they go so fast and do not sound like a car or a human. Best I managed to help Ru was a friendly cyclist fed her polo's and chatted to her and me, and from then on I insist that all cyclists speak to us .... just a hello.... so she knows they are human. IT seems to help.
 
I've met cyclists who wouldn't slow down if their life depended on it . Once on a bridleway , holding on to my huge Fell whilst having a lunch break , a prat on bike came hurtling towards us , and despite my request to slow down ( the reason was obvious as the pony was desperately leaping about ) the idiot just rode on past . I couldn't manage to hold on and the pony took off at great speed after the bike and out of sight . I bet the cyclist then had to pedal like mad out of his way ( and I think his underpants might have needed a good wash ! ) a bit of summary justice , me thinks .
Of course , I've also met cyclists who are delightful so I don't class everyone the same - just as I've found some horseriders & dog walkers who are ignorant and rude . Just remember to thank the decent ones
 
I have this problem with Bella so you have my sympathy. Its a bit of a pain especially as a hulking great lorry can pass us with no more than a glance but a bicycle is the latest horse eating monster :rolleyes:

I intend to increase her exposure to them this summer by getting my kids to meet us in the field with treats (she is a cob therefore ruled by her tummy :p ) and get her used to them riding around so she knows they aren't really going to get her


Good luck with getting George used to cycles. Don't forget to let us know how you get on will you?
 
Ride your bike around his field so he can get used to it - lots of big circles and bit by bit get closer. Stand still on your bike and hold your hand out with titbits in so he can come over in his own time, sniff it and see its not so scarey. Also get someone to meet you out on hacks.

As someone above said, ask cyclists to stop / slow down. I am currently bringing on a youngster and we have recently started hacking out alone. As I am conscious of his reaction, I ask everyone (cars / cyclists etc) to slow down and people cutting hedges etc to stop - and so far, touch wood, everyone has been fantastic! As we ride past I always thank them profusely and explain my big boy is only 4 and how grateful I am for them stopping. I'm sure they appreciate a rider being so polite (as there are lots who aren't!!) - and they if they are non horsey probably had no idea that such a big animal (16hh) could be just 4!!

I saw a group of cyclists out last week and shouted for the 1st one to stop. He was fab - shouted back and the whole lot stopped for us (there were loads of them) - we had a chat and a couple of them stroked Cody on the nose - so he now thinks cyclists are nice!!
 
Yep, same as above, expose him to them, get kids to ride around the field, whatever you can. Mine was the same, also with pushchairs, so i borrowed a buggy and took it with me poo picking! He got over it after a few days.
 
If George is scared of bycycles, stop making him ride one, or get him one with stabilisers :D, only kidding, think everyone else has covered it ;)
 
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