Out hacking... is this inconsiderate, or am I a grump?

Cantering around on the other side of a field, no.

Cantering up your arse, yes, IF they didn't slow down as soon as they saw you. Sounds like you took evasive maneuvers and went down a different trail as soon as you saw them, so it's hard to know from your post how close they were. If I'm cantering on the trail and I see hikers, cyclists, dog walkers, or other riders, I always slow to walk to pass. I think it is a dickish thing to do, flying up to anyone, mounted or not, on a cantering horse and sending them diving for cover.
 
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I wouldn't mind at all. I'd expect them to holler if they were coming up behind me to check I knew they were there but that is it.

This is where the hunting field comes into its own for educating horses in manners, patience and expecting the unexpected!!
 
Caol Ila said:
Cantering around on the other side of a field, no.

Cantering up your arse, yes, IF they didn't slow down as soon as they saw you. Sounds like you took evasive maneuvers and went down a different trail as soon as you saw them, so it's hard to know from your post how close they were. If I'm cantering on the trail and I see hikers, cyclists, dog walkers, or other riders, I always slow to walk to pass. I think it is a dickish thing to do, flying up to anyone, mounted or not, on a cantering horse and sending them diving for cover.
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^^This. I think if the horse wasn't cantered right up behind/past you, then you need to take ownership of your horse's behaviour.

I doubt I would have met with much joy if I'd shouted stop to the racehorses in canter work coming straight towards and past my horse yesterday as we walked a bridleway next to the gallops the other direction. Instead I just expected my 16.3 green 7 year old warmblood to behave and she did. My sister's old welshy/tb got a bit het up but that's him and she shut him down and redirected his energy no problem.

I personally wouldn't carry on an action to cause an accident but would be fed up at having to curtail my ride because someone hadn't trained their horse.

Stopping to walk calmly directly past a rider/walker/bike etc though should be standard manners, but then you should be able to continue calmly at a faster pace once clear.

My major pet hate is riders passing walkers at more than a walk, now that is ill mannered and dangerous.
 
very rude how did the other rider know if you'd be ok? they didnt. Riders should always approach other horses quietly and at walk. the other horse may be a youngster out on its first hack or the rider a novice or nervous. Rude and ill mannered and selfish.
 
but it doesn't sound like the other rider got close enough to be defined as 'approaching'. She could have been half a field away.
 
They werent half a field away the first time I saw them, maybe about 50 yards?. And no doubt had I not have turned around, spotted them fast approaching and turned off in another direction they would have been even nearer
 
Mine speeds up a little until she can't see them anymore; but this is usually riders walking the opposite way/past us at a trot then walk to get by us.
Once she jogged the whole way back after seeing a horse cantering; but that's her impatience coming out. She's got better the more she's seen; plus she did a season hunting
 
You're leaping to some conclusions I think are a wee bit unfair. 50 yards is still a long enough line of sight. Long enough for her to think, "I'll slow down in a couple more strides" and still not be up your butt. Or they may have just spotted you. Even when I've thought I had a line of sight on a track, I've come around a bend and suddenly spotted someone at way less than 50 yards. Then I've slammed on the brakes.

If someone saw me, then took another turn on a different trail while I was still 50 yards away, I would probably keep cantering. I'd just think, "Oh, well, they've turned off somewhere else, so I'll keep going." That person might come onto a forum and complain, "This rider cantered up behind me and didn't slow down!"
 
Oh, and I have totally taken different routes when something I didn't want to deal with was coming down the trail I planned on using. I am not above that, either. But I wouldn't complain about the other trail users. I *could* work on my horse dealing with the husky team pulling the bike and all the wonderful training benefits of desensitizing her to that stuff. Or not. But that's on me.
 
Crikey! How do you all cope at a show in the collecting ring with people going at all paces and coming at you in all directions? If not shows, what about pleasure rides or large group hacks when all sorts happen? Am guessing that none of you go hunting! :D The only time I grump is if someone out of control uses my young ID's rather ample backside as a brake pad out hunting.
 
gunnergundog said:
Crikey! How do you all cope at a show in the collecting ring with people going at all paces and coming at you in all directions? If not shows, what about pleasure rides or large group hacks when all sorts happen? Am guessing that none of you go hunting! :D The only time I grump is if someone out of control uses my young ID's rather ample backside as a brake pad out hunting.
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I happily cope with all those, as I choose when to hunt, do a sponsored ride or compete, and am therfeore in that mindset :)

However, I get pretty ar5ey with folk who keep on coming from behind without a call out, when I am hacking locally.
Its just plain rude.
We have a couple of local riders who do just that: they either fast trot or canter up behind. Now this isn't funny at all if I am out escorting a nervous rider or a nervous or young newly backed horse to try to get it used to sights & sounds. However, I do have a voice that is a little loud, so usually ask for conssideration if I can spot them in time.

After all, everybody has to start somewhere with getting out and about, from others its called consideration to other users. Sadly, there is less and less of it these days :(
 
I went to the beach once and it was my first time and my horses first time and I was really nervous. i was nearly finished and had a small controlled canter for maybe 10 strides when two teenage girls began galloping up and down the sand and I had to scream for them to stop cause my horse was spinning in circles hopping on the spot all excited. They didn't bother just laughed. It ruined what was a beautiful last outting for us as he took lame not long after and never got to canter him again :(

I don't know if I will ever show riding horses lol
 
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