TarrSteps
Well-Known Member
Still learning about the ways of the world here . . .
I know riders are often irritated, even endangered by pedestrians, dogs, cyclists etc. but I was wondering if there is an "accepted" right of way (official or otherwise) for areas used by both walkers and riders.
I often walk my dogs in areas where people hack and generally have pleasant encounters, with perhaps even a short chat about their horses, my dogs (or vice versa) or similar. But twice now I've almost been run down by people cantering in areas where there is a lot of foot traffic/dog walkers. Both areas had decent visibility (so the riders could see the people ahead) but were near major roads so tricky to hear approaching hoofbeats. Both times no attempt was made to slow down - one woman simply hollered at us to get off the path (it's about ten feet wide) and the one today hit her horse repeatedly when it spooked at us and seemed to hold us personally responsible for being there. In both cases they didn't give me any chance to collect up my dogs, although they're fine with horses and recall well so it wasn't an issue but it easily could have been with someone else.
So what's the etiquette? Do people yield to horses? (Neither area is officially a bridleway, just general common land.) Is it "socially acceptable" here to canter down a path with foot traffic? (It's not where I'm from, riders are expected to slow to a walk if there are cyclists or walkers passing.) Obviously dogs should never chase horses but surely riders must consider that not every dog is well behaved and tempt fate in that way?
Also, what is the protocol for parking lorries in car parks? At least once someone parked their lorry BEHIND an entire row of cars, blocking them in completely! Is it first come, first served? Are lorries even technically allowed in roadside carparks?
Just curious so I don't inadvertently break the rules, either whilst walking or hacking.
I know riders are often irritated, even endangered by pedestrians, dogs, cyclists etc. but I was wondering if there is an "accepted" right of way (official or otherwise) for areas used by both walkers and riders.
I often walk my dogs in areas where people hack and generally have pleasant encounters, with perhaps even a short chat about their horses, my dogs (or vice versa) or similar. But twice now I've almost been run down by people cantering in areas where there is a lot of foot traffic/dog walkers. Both areas had decent visibility (so the riders could see the people ahead) but were near major roads so tricky to hear approaching hoofbeats. Both times no attempt was made to slow down - one woman simply hollered at us to get off the path (it's about ten feet wide) and the one today hit her horse repeatedly when it spooked at us and seemed to hold us personally responsible for being there. In both cases they didn't give me any chance to collect up my dogs, although they're fine with horses and recall well so it wasn't an issue but it easily could have been with someone else.
So what's the etiquette? Do people yield to horses? (Neither area is officially a bridleway, just general common land.) Is it "socially acceptable" here to canter down a path with foot traffic? (It's not where I'm from, riders are expected to slow to a walk if there are cyclists or walkers passing.) Obviously dogs should never chase horses but surely riders must consider that not every dog is well behaved and tempt fate in that way?
Also, what is the protocol for parking lorries in car parks? At least once someone parked their lorry BEHIND an entire row of cars, blocking them in completely! Is it first come, first served? Are lorries even technically allowed in roadside carparks?
Just curious so I don't inadvertently break the rules, either whilst walking or hacking.
