crtreedude
05-22-07, 07:05 AM
Neither could I after I read it! I think if you go spoking horses, well, they are surely going to spook!
View Full Version : Riding Safely Around Horses
Pages :
1
[2]
crtreedude
05-22-07, 07:22 AM
Does anyone else find it ironic that the OP wants us to take exceptional care when we're passing her while she's on her horse, yet at the same time, expects us to move the F out of her way when she's hauling her horse?
What an excellent point! I think you just hit the nail on the head. In the USA, horse owners tend to think they have the right of way. On the trail, on the road, etc. It is interesting that here in the countryside of Costa Rica, it is very different. The bigger you are, the more care you have to give. I as a cyclist must watch out for walkers. If I am on a horse, I have to watch out for anything smaller than a motorcycle. If my horse gets loose and gets hit by a car - I have to pay to repair the car.
I think this is the same issue of why small planes are often called Lawyer Killers. Just because you can afford to buy a plane doesn't mean you have any business being a pilot - even if you have a license. The same thing with a horse. Just because you can afford what is in the USA most of the time a luxury doesn't say you are qualified to have one. By North American standards, I would probably be considered an excellent rider. But I don't know anything compared to our workers who grew up taking care of horses and riding them.
just my dos colones
What an excellent point! I think you just hit the nail on the head. In the USA, horse owners tend to think they have the right of way. On the trail, on the road, etc. It is interesting that here in the countryside of Costa Rica, it is very different. The bigger you are, the more care you have to give. I as a cyclist must watch out for walkers. If I am on a horse, I have to watch out for anything smaller than a motorcycle. If my horse gets loose and gets hit by a car - I have to pay to repair the car.
I think this is the same issue of why small planes are often called Lawyer Killers. Just because you can afford to buy a plane doesn't mean you have any business being a pilot - even if you have a license. The same thing with a horse. Just because you can afford what is in the USA most of the time a luxury doesn't say you are qualified to have one. By North American standards, I would probably be considered an excellent rider. But I don't know anything compared to our workers who grew up taking care of horses and riding them.
just my dos colones
Denny Koll
05-22-07, 02:11 PM
I wonder if it's worth confronting the equestrians on our trail about the mess they leave? There is no way to tell which horse left the turds. Not sure it would make much of a difference. Every three weeks or so folks come along and clean the trail so maybe I just let it slide?
Andrew*Debbie
05-22-07, 03:13 PM
Does anyone else find it ironic that the OP wants us to take exceptional care when we're passing her while she's on her horse, yet at the same time, expects us to move the F out of her way when she's hauling her horse?
Yeah. Wish she hadn't said that. Tarnished an otherwise worthy post.
I've pulled a horse trailer more than a few times. Rule 1 is never be in a hurry. I've followed road bikes rather than risk passing.
Horses are a heavy live load. While you can slam on the brakes it isn't a good idea and can injure the horses. Even with the best mirrors you have significant blind spots.
On a bike, I always give horse rigs plenty of distance.
Yeah. Wish she hadn't said that. Tarnished an otherwise worthy post.
I've pulled a horse trailer more than a few times. Rule 1 is never be in a hurry. I've followed road bikes rather than risk passing.
Horses are a heavy live load. While you can slam on the brakes it isn't a good idea and can injure the horses. Even with the best mirrors you have significant blind spots.
On a bike, I always give horse rigs plenty of distance.
mlh122
05-23-07, 09:03 AM
I don't own a horse and i've ridden a horse all of 2 times in my life on Earth. I think most horse owners don't clean up the doodie because they don't know when the horse is going. We went on a horse ride in Maui and my wife was behind me and kept saying "ewww your horse is pooping!!" and i had no idea, the horse was moving at the same speed, i didn't hear anything, etc... likewise the horse in front of me pooped several times and the rider also had no idea. maybe the horses could wear some kind of diaper? or maybe there could be an extra horse tax that riders pay perhaps $1 entry fee and that goes to local high school kids that go around the trail and either pick it up or just scoop it off the trail.
Denny Koll
05-23-07, 09:45 AM
I don't own a horse and i've ridden a horse all of 2 times in my life on Earth. I think most horse owners don't clean up the doodie because they don't know when the horse is going. We went on a horse ride in Maui and my wife was behind me and kept saying "ewww your horse is pooping!!" and i had no idea, the horse was moving at the same speed, i didn't hear anything, etc... likewise the horse in front of me pooped several times and the rider also had no idea. maybe the horses could wear some kind of diaper? or maybe there could be an extra horse tax that riders pay perhaps $1 entry fee and that goes to local high school kids that go around the trail and either pick it up or just scoop it off the trail.
I think the horse tax idea is a good one. Pay for the cleanup and give some work to some students.
I think the horse tax idea is a good one. Pay for the cleanup and give some work to some students.
East Hill
05-23-07, 11:13 AM
Yeah..but have you ever met one that cleaned up after his horse?
Good question. The MUP I frequent has a separate horse trail running parallel to the paved trail, so it's not an issue in this case.
Otherwise, I'd have to say--no.
East Hill
Good question. The MUP I frequent has a separate horse trail running parallel to the paved trail, so it's not an issue in this case.
Otherwise, I'd have to say--no.
East Hill
Dogbait
05-23-07, 01:22 PM
A properly organized horse will be able to get along (http://www.tubearoo.com/articles/82692/Tour_de_France_Horse.html) with cyclists, even in the heat of competition.
Denny Koll
05-23-07, 01:25 PM
A properly organized horse will be able to get along (http://www.tubearoo.com/articles/82692/Tour_de_France_Horse.html) with cyclists, even in the heat of competition.
The good part about that video is that the horse did his share of pulling and I'd guess it would be a pretty good draft.
The good part about that video is that the horse did his share of pulling and I'd guess it would be a pretty good draft.
Dogbait
05-23-07, 02:31 PM
The good part about that video is that the horse did his share of pulling and I'd guess it would be a pretty good draft.
..... And we all know how a horse deals with wheelsuckers :D
..... And we all know how a horse deals with wheelsuckers :D
The Human Car
06-03-07, 04:11 PM
Caffeinated,
Thank you for your post and I really liked points 1-3 which I’ll pass around to see if I can get these up on trails shared by horses and bikes around here.
I would like to point out that generally speaking if there was adequate room for cyclists to pull over and let you pass without risking their safety 95% of them would be there. It’s not our fault that someone decided that spending and extra 2% or less on the road for extra width for cyclists was not a priority. Passing safely takes effort and some inconvenience on everyone’s part.
Thank you for your post and I really liked points 1-3 which I’ll pass around to see if I can get these up on trails shared by horses and bikes around here.
I would like to point out that generally speaking if there was adequate room for cyclists to pull over and let you pass without risking their safety 95% of them would be there. It’s not our fault that someone decided that spending and extra 2% or less on the road for extra width for cyclists was not a priority. Passing safely takes effort and some inconvenience on everyone’s part.
Mr. Underbridge
06-04-07, 11:08 AM
What an excellent point! I think you just hit the nail on the head. In the USA, horse owners tend to think they have the right of way. On the trail, on the road, etc.
And they seem to be influential, because on our local MUP they do in fact have the right-of-way. In most places, however, they also have their own side-trail, so it isn't that big of a deal. Personally, I've only ever seen 2 horses on the trail.
And they seem to be influential, because on our local MUP they do in fact have the right-of-way. In most places, however, they also have their own side-trail, so it isn't that big of a deal. Personally, I've only ever seen 2 horses on the trail.
Denny Koll
06-04-07, 12:01 PM
And they seem to be influential, because on our local MUP they do in fact have the right-of-way. In most places, however, they also have their own side-trail, so it isn't that big of a deal. Personally, I've only ever seen 2 horses on the trail.
I don't see all that many horses but I sure do see their crap.
I don't see all that many horses but I sure do see their crap.
Andrew*Debbie
06-15-07, 08:31 AM
I think the horse tax idea is a good one.
Some areas do tax horses. We had to purchase tags to ride ours on city-owned trails. It was kinda funny. When we asked the city employee what do to with the tags we were told "Put it on his collar."
We ended up hanging them on our saddles.
Some areas do tax horses. We had to purchase tags to ride ours on city-owned trails. It was kinda funny. When we asked the city employee what do to with the tags we were told "Put it on his collar."
We ended up hanging them on our saddles.
vBulletin® v3.7.3, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.