Grrrr!! cyclists!

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malibu211211

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Went for a quiet plod round the block tonight in the drizzly rain as the horses were a little full of themselves yesterday so thought we'd take things steady today.
Anyway we were on our way home when my friends mare shot off (very unlike her, pretty bombproof unless there's a donkey
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) and there was a cyclist was coming up behind. Monty shot off in the hedge (not suprising as he hates bikes
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) Most cyclists will slow down so you can turn horse to see the bike or at least let you know they are behind you. Nope, not this one he thought it was highly amusing to carry on with a smirk on his face
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Really had to resist chasing after him and beating him with my whip
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Sorry rant over
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I had one ride past me, then do some kind of jump manovere thing! then just around on his bike doing tricks trying to scare the horses. He stopped quickly though both horses didnt even look at him! both bombproof cobs!
 
Oooh, can I join you in a little grrr too?!
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I had a really similar situation a couple of weeks ago. Friend and I were riding our pretty traffic proof horses along the road when they both suddenly took off forwards.
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A racing cyclist had come up behind us, at great speed, swerved out round us only just wide enough to miss my stirrup) and cut straight back in front of my horses nose.
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So we went from shooting forwards to slamming on the brakes and veering left.
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We called out (politely) to suggest he might want to let riders know when he's behind them and we just got a filthy look over his shoulder.
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We have lots of problems with club cyclists riding 3 or 4 abreast coming towards you on narrow lanes and often on bridleways too.

Not my favourite road users!!
 
On a semi related note, can horse riders please not ride non-traffic proof horses up the high street of towns. The roads are very narrow (due to legally parked cars) and there aren't really any passing places. The road is also busy, and you will get trucks, and people with silly exhausts very frequently Was sitting in front room earlier today, heard excited hoof beats, and saw a horse nearly bounce into my car because it was freaking out at oncoming van (which was stopped waiting for them) Their (equine) companion pulled into the 1m wide gap between parked car, putting front legs on pavement!

The only way they can have got into town was past a large cheese factory, over a narrow bridge and then past a distribution depot - lots of lorries 24/7 - not exactly a safe hack. The ridiculous thing is that there are plenty of lanes which you could use to avoid the town. I don't mind people on sane horses coming through the town - I mean sheep get herded up the high street from time to time, but given the narrowness of the pavements and roads, riding a spooky horse is an accident waiting to happen (child/old person on pavement???)
 
We have actual races going past the yard.
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Its a miracle that there hasn't been a major accident when there's 20-30 all going past together and none of them want to slow down for a second.
 
"We have lots of problems with club cyclists riding 3 or 4 abreast coming towards you on narrow lanes and often on bridleways too"

We get them too and there are road race around our area come past in groups of up to 20 they have those awful filled in wheels that make a weird whizzy noise. Drive my horse mad. I know there is room for everyone and they are serious about their sport but a small amount of consideration would be nice even if it is for their own personal safety as they are at perfect kick height. (although I'm sure there are riders how are just as rude!)
 
Daisy doesn't like cyclists and I've decided to do something about it by asking them to call out hello as they come past. It's the swooping up silently that bothers her, not the bike itself. Some of our local cyclists now shout, "Hello Horsie" as they come up behind, I'm hoping that word will get out that its the appropriate way to go past, some aren't evil, they just need to be educated
 
agree with dwi. you should be aware of what is behind you when you are riding and we call to cyclists that if they speak the horse will realise its a person, they all oblige and pass with a smile (probably thinking 'stupid horse/woman') but it makes life easier.

on another note I was riding out one day and a little girl on a bike was coming towards us. I smiled and said hello and she gave a shy little hello, but couldn't take her eyes off b. a few second later, he shot forward as there was a big crash and I looked back to see little girl & her bike lying in a heap in the middle of the road. she had been so busy looking at the horse and not where she was going she crashed!! I asked if she was ok and she mumbled yes before picking up her bike and scurrying off, but it was sooooo funny, I was smirking all the way round my hack.

F x
 
I find most cyclists are sensible.

I make a point of explaining to cyclists that the safest option when approaching horses and passing them is to talk and also shout 'passing' when approaching horses from behind so that the rider is aware that they are passing.

As far as road races are concerned there was a serious accident about 5 years ago involving a road race and horses and the cycling club concerned was taken to court and a substantial sum awared to the injured horse riders concerned.

Cyclying clubs holding road races have been advised to take great care when holding road races and that they must ensure that their marshalls warn horse riders of the approaching cyclists and if necessary stop the race to allow the horse riders to move out of the way to a safe place of refuge before allowing the road race to continue and safely pass the horses.
 
I've only ever had one cyclist warn me or my mule they were there! Most either ignore you or scowl if asked politely to warn you.
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Look at it from the equines point of view.It sees a narrow fast moving prey animal moving straight at it from behind,no wonder they spook if there is no noise its there instinct but those pratts on bikes think they own the roads and footpaths and bridleways!
At least motorbikes are polite and you can hear them comming
 
I had the opposite happen to me...riding quietly along a lane when all of a sudden all I hear is 'ding ding ding' a bike bell being rung from behind and a lady shouting! My mare is ok with bikes and when they come past her she flinches sometimes but doesnt spook. The lady was just trying to be responsible but actually frightened my poor mare from behind with her bell ringing!!
 
Many years ago we were hacking a new horse home, having just bought her, to be surrounded by idiot cyclists in a road race, coming round her whooping, riding so close I could touch them (if I had wanted to!) I was riding, sister in car behind us,(they managed to get between car and horse!) OH walking on pavement. Fortunately she proved that she was indeed the super safe confidence giver we had bought for my novice OH and sister who had lost her nerve a bit having had a mad TBxWelsh D who nearly put her under a waggon. She carried on down the road as if they didn't exist, worried me though!
 
Pete was a bit funny with bikes but I've got a habit of looking behind me a lot (its being a cab driver I think
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) so if I see a bike I tell him its coming and he barely bothers at all now even if I don't warn him first.
 
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