Hacking etiquette

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B&J

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Is there a general etiquette when passing other horses on single lane country roads or bridlepaths?

We saw a rider at the weekend coming from the opposite direction, she went past at a fast trot on a tight bit of road and didn't acknowledge us at all. My horse had a moment and tried to turn but managed to keep a lid on him (serial napper and any excuse to return home), friends horse pranced a bit. I've seen her a few times and she always blasts past us heading to the canter paths and very rarely returns the good mornings offered. Just wonder if this is normal, we don't see many riders that we don't know, normally stop and chat with most the neighbours out riding so meeting unknown horses is quite rare for me.

I have only really started hacking regularly this year so not got a 'real world' idea on the etiquette's, at a guess surely it is polite to slow to a walk until you're at least out of arms reach?
 
Not normal to trot past fast in the opposite direction, nor to overtake at trot. Etiquette is to call out a greeting, slow to walk, if behind ask to pass.
 
Not sure if it's standard, but I always slow to a walk for passing others, never trot/canter up behind someone and always pass left to left. Always say hellos/mornings/afternoons too - or at least swap smiles!

We never overtake at anything more than a walk, and always call to let them know we're behind them and ask whether it's ok to overtake (if possible - though usually just hang back and wait to see which direction they go).
 
Thank you everyone, pretty much what I had guessed then :-(

She has previously trotted past us from behind, luckily heading away from home so my boy didn't try to chase after her as it meant working harder but I dread the day it happens heading in direction of home! He's older but very low mileage and never done a show / sponsored ride or anything so he's not very experienced with horses going past fast.

I wonder whether this will be a regular occurrence in which case would it be overly rude if we called out that the horses are nervy or something? I don't want to alienate anyone or make it awkward seeing her again but now we are riding out a few times a week (rather than a rare hack) I'm worried this will become a more regular issue and I've only just started to regain my confidence hence not previously hacking much.
 
I am afraid that the rider you met is the ill-mannered type that get's us all a bad name.
(Probably of the variety that has her head stuck up her rear end).
 
I was out hacking,me and a friend, and going into a [well known as ] boggy woods, two people on big TBs cantered past on other side of road, crossed road and came up RIGHT behind us, as we went through the woods. all the way through. if my mare had kicked, or it'd been another horse from our yard, they'd have been off.
came to main track and they asked to go in front, which again upset my normally chill mare as she wanted to follow and generally stressed both humans and horses out. i was fuming. all they had to do was let us get 200m in front before crossing the road.
so.. i feel your pain :/
 
We 'had' one round our way, in the end she was taken to court for furious riding as didn't slow down for anyone, including mowing through dog walkers too.

Worth you firmly asking the other rider to 'please slow down and have some consideration' next time.
Don't say your horses are nervous/worried, just ask her to slow down when passing. If that fails, get a good fog-horn instructor voice on you & bellow ' I asked you to slow down madam, please have the courtesy to do so' (often works if you can puff yourself up to do it) ;)

If she doesn't then make it your business to find out where she is & report her :)
 
Fuzzy Furry - I just had to Google that!!!! Riding furiously... it amazes me how rude and uncourteous people can be but to result in court action... I fully agree with it but I am shocked the police did anything at all! Although the name of the law I like... Furious riding... I think I have done that a few times... generally about once a month but it consists of me grumbling at my horse while I try and make him collect!!!

OP - I wouldn't have any qualms with calling out to her.... maybe she doesn't realise she is being a twit.... and has headphone in!!!!
 
There's one round our way. Goes everywhere at a spanking trot and slows for no-one.
I met her literally outside our yard gate one day, so as my pony was unlikely to bog off home (we were there already) I put myself in the middle of the road, flagged her down and asked her to walk when passing others.
Her answer as she belted past me was 'I would if I could!' (she didn't look to me to be trying to slow down her horse)
My response was 'well you shouldn't be on the bl**dy road then if you can't control your horse!'
 
Take a nice long whip and when she goes past give her horse a good crack on the arse and see if she stays on :) .... Obviously for the sake of being shot down I must say this is a joke and I am only joking ;)

Personally I would say something to her. As she approaches give her a shout and ask her to slow down or actually to stop. Then just explain that its common courtesy to slow down and acknowledge your fellow rider when passing. She sounds like a twit tho so don't be too friendly!
 
Blimey the mind boggles at the court one!!!! I might see if our yard owner will come out for a ride and hope we see her; she has a very good instructor voice - certainly makes me sit up straight that's for sure!! - even my best puffy voice is laughable - well my horse thinks so!
 
Antw23uk said:
Take a nice long whip and when she goes past give her horse a good crack on the arse and see if she stays on :) .... Obviously for the sake of being shot down I must say this is a joke and I am only joking ;)

!
Click to expand...

Where's the like button!! :-)
 
I could maybe understand coming past you quickly if her horse is nappy / clingy but not without a quick explanation or at the very least a "hello". A friend's horse would turn himself inside out if he met other horses and had time to realise what was going on so she just had to get past them and get them out of sight as quickly as possible but she'd always say "Sorry I have to keep him going or he'll get silly" or something like that so people realised why, it took seconds so plenty of time for other riders to hear her. She'd always ask to pass people and nobody ever said no while I was with her, but not sure what she'd have done if someone had said no as she didn't really have much option!
 
Unfortunately, there are rude people to be found in all walks of life and she is one of them. Hmm I would just ask her to slow down then at least when she does, you might be able to strike up a conversation with her ?

One of my horses is very inexperienced and he would get really upset if that happened to us.

There is no official etiquette - it's just basic good manners, which not everyone possesses. Don't let it put you off - 99% of hackers are not like this.
 
I would never trot past a horse without saying I was going to do so and checking the other person was ok and would slowdown if going the other way however it the rider of the horses job to be in control of the horse they are riding.
I met some people a little while ago and one of their horses tried to follow ours the rider was so novicey she had no clue how to stop it that's plain stupid and dangerou no one should be out on the road with that level of control .
Not answering a greeting would not bother me in the least people have the right not to talk if they don't wish to .
 
interesting this thread pops up today. I had one last night. We have a bridleway near us that forms a square round the edge of the village,about 2 miles in total. There is another bridleway diagonally across the middle of it, straight across 4 fields. I was almost at the top of the diagonal when my horse caught sight of another, cantering across the top. She disappeared from view, then the next minute appeared at a canter again heading off towards the village. I have no idea whether she simply didnt notice me or didnt care but my boy got quite upset with himself and wouldnt settle at all for a few minutes. I did think to myself it was a bit thoughtless so interesting to hear the general view on here. If ever Im aware of a horse behind me or close by I always try to look across to make sure the rider is OK.
 
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