Hacking etiquette?

I've never been taught any 'etiquette'- only been hacking for the past 6months and even then alone. But I always slow down when I'm coming up to anyone be in towards or behind- just seemed the common sense thing to do?
 
I always slow to a walk when going past other riders or walkers on foot. I've never really though about it too much; it just seems like common sense. You don't know how someone else's horse will react - it might be a kicker. I'd want to give the other rider time to communicate to me anything that I may need to know before passing. For example I was asked to swap my whip into my outside hand by another rider as her horse can be nervous of whips. If I'd been trotting I may not have heard her or she may not have had the time to notice the potential hazard.
 
I'd just carry on trotting, smile and say good morning as I passed.
Tbh I'm staggered at the number of people who slow right down then actually ASK if they can pass - when coming from the opposite direction! If someone's horse can't handle another horse on the other side of the road then either it or the rider are not ready to be hacking.

If I were cantering on a track, coming up behind someone, or the horse i was approaching was clearly messing around then I'd slow, but in the situation OP describes I'd just carry on as I've said.

If i were on my 4 year old and met someone trotting towards me who just carried on with a smile I wouldn't be remotely bothered - it'd be good experience for the horse.

RunToEarth said:
See I personally wouldn't be bothered and would encourage the horses to deal with situations like this - out hunting we will often have huntsman and hunt staff cantering/galloping past us in the opposite direction and I would be mortified if any of ours decided to whip round and follow them, so they are quite used to having horses flying past them.
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This!!
 
it wouldn't bother me if someone felt the urge to trot past me in either direction, but it's nice to know what they're up to, so I can pick up the reins a bit. Alf is reasonably sensible in these situations, although he thinks he's a stallion, so does ponce around a bit, and give any strange horses a bit of sexy chat - silly old fool!
 
p87 said:
I'd have stopped my horse sideways across the track so they couldn't get past, waited from some manners from them and then let them through. Manners cost nothing!
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You would put yourself and your horse in front of another horse to prove that point? Sorry if anyone tried this with me I would think you were completely crackers!
 
EllieBeast said:
Just a quick one- when riding out on the roads on my 4yo yesterday (with sensible companion as it was her first hack since october having had time off with saddle issues!) We came across another rider trotting towards us on the other side of a single track road.
To pass us he didnt slow down, just kept on trotting past fairly close to ours. This certainly wasnt a problem to us as our horses couldn't care less but I have always been taught to pass at a walk as you dont know how other peoples horses are likely to react. What are other peoples views on this? How do you pass others?
Im merely asking out of curiosity as I expect my horse to behave in these circumstances, but know others that may kick up a stink!!
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Just a thought , but was he ugly ?
He may have frightened your horses if he had slowed down, It may well have happened to him before.
Or was he indeed a bit chubby ?
He may have thought you were the Fat Police and maybe he was on his last warning ?
 
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