Cycling UK Forum

Thanks for your suggestions but I think it's worse to pretend to be something you're not. Honesty is the best policy if I get some abuse it's just to be expected on any social media site there is always someone who reads something in to what you are saying or misunderstands your intentions.I don't do Facebook Twitter or anything like that I prefer to meet folk face to face. I'd just had enough that's why I joined the forum. Completely out of character for me but a way of getting my point of view across.
Thanks for the apology.
I go out alone and in company just depends if I have the time he's no better or worse with others around. I usually just warn approaching cyclists that he's wary of them so be prepared this is when they are in hearing distance and usually after I've signalled them to slow down. I try to stand in a layby if possible but the roads round here are so very narrow and winding. Cyclists approaching me from behind are harder, quite often they have silently whizzed past before I can speak. I regularly look back but I can't do that every two seconds so I don't always clock them. Fortunately my horse isn't as bad when they pass this way it's head on he has an issue with and that's just because of his experiences from that direction.

They regularly move cows and sheep from field to field where I live. Always have to block the road off, much to dismay of non locals!

Heltor I don't think you can improve your technique just let us know in some way that you are there. A friendly hello even a shout and yes a bell is generally ok as long as it isn't when you have already "snook" up on us
I'd rather my horse jumped at the bell, than took flight as you whizzed past us! (Not that is sounds as if this is something you would do but others can be so naïve).

It is far from cruel to take horses out on roads, most do enjoy getting out and about, we often meet up with other riders and go out together socially. It is more cruel to abandon them in a small field where life can be quiet but boring.
Horses are by nature easily frightened some more than others (it depends on their breeding and /or their training and experience). A horse is a prey animal in frightening situations they react quickly and blindly they just want to escape. For a horse safety is within the herd that is where they are less likely to be picked off by predators and that is why you should never separate a group of horse riders. Horses naturally want to co operate with the herd that is why we have been so successful in building relationships with them. In a herd if they misbehave they will be sent away which is a scary place for a horse to be, so they learn from a young age to co operate with the herd (i.e. "us") but you cannot get away from their inherent nature to run when frightened.
Riders get out not to get around quickly, but to enjoy the partnership with their horses and the countryside. Most riders even if they could ride in fields(most farmers and livery yard owners won't allow it, it churns up the land) would not choose to do so (riding round and round is not very interesting for both horse and rider). There are few bridleways and off road routes available to most people and given a choice most would prefer to ride without having to go on a busy road or even a quiet country lane (most of the BHS statistics show that the vast majority of accidents happen on quiet country lanes), but the reality is we have to, to enjoy our riding.
Arenas are wonderful things to have. That is where we educate our horse on a safe level area. We can jump and train but to the horse it is hard work, so we would not use them day in and day out. A couple of times a week is more than enough for the average pleasure horse. Having said that not everyone has access to one they cost in excess of £25,000 to put in properly (there are a lot of materials underneath the arena to aid drainage which is essential to ensure they do not become water logged). I wish I could afford one but I can't so I have to use the roads to get to one that I can hire by the hour.

Revolution you have hit the nail on the head on the perfect way to deal with horses and riders on the road. I'm sorry that our presence frightens you but if you behave as you state I'm pretty sure you won't have any problems. All we need is communication a lot of horses are fine with bikes some not so good and some downright frightened but let us know you are there ask if ok to pass and be prepared to stop if something happens.
I met a cyclist at speed today and my boy was fine but I had stopped on a wide part of the road and the cyclist passed wide and slow perfect.
Some horses stress if approached fast from behind some if approached fast head on (like mine, but he's now usually ok if the rider slows right down and give us a wide berth) .
There seems to be a lot of talk about if the rider is frightened the horse reacts and yes this can be true they do feed off the energy in the area whether that is the rider or other external factor but regardless if you let us know you are there and slow down we can usually manage to placate them.
Thanks Everyone for your feedback happy cycling/riding

Goodness I seem to have annoyed quite a lot of people by not staying online or not replying quickly enough to responses from my post about horses and cyclists.
I've been busy but I have a few spare minutes now.
Most people don't keep horses just to have in a field sorry but they are far too expensive and time consuming just for that purpose a bit like buying a bike and leaving it in the garage to rust...except a horse is a living breathing creature. It does them no good to do nothing and would be a welfare issue but I'm not here to post about that I'm sure there are many people who'd go off on a rant about that.
I don't hate cyclist but I am getting more and more uptight because of the lack of consideration, apart from the fact that lack of consideration is very dangerous for me the cyclist and my horse.
I'm still working on my horse on a daily basis to overcome his fear I can't give up on him and I won't I'm just asking for the same consideration that cyclists expect from cars etc. is it so hard to co exist? I'm not rude to cyclists. I wish I could say most smile and are considerate but my own experience is much different please prove me wrong.
I've written to the British Horse Society about my experience as they've just done a big campaign to educate motor vehicle drivers about the needs of riders so I wondered if there were any plans for a similar campaign aimed at cyclists and riders. I also copied the mail to ROSPA and today I've had a response asking me to ring them so we will see where that goes.
Thanks to those that saw my message as more of a cry for help than a hate mail for cyclists, it was intended as the former and not the latter.

I have a few more spare minutes now so I'm editing this post having had the time to re read other folks posts.
I am more than aware that cyclists are also vulnerable road users and when I'm driving I wait and give a wide berth even if it means following them for some considerable distance (which it usually does where I live as most roads are narrow single track with passing places).
My own experience with cars is good you get the odd one who won't slow down, but generally most do and are thanked accordingly. My horse is brilliant with cars, waggons, tractors and most scary things he just has an issue with bikes because of his past experiences.
'Like I said his training is ongoing relying on friends and hubby with bikes. He was nearly back to his old self i.e. didn't care about bikes until the recent incident of the near head on collision. The problem is when something like that happens it just reiterates that bikes are indeed something to run from. A truly frightened horse will run in a blind panic even if they have a good relationship with their rider/handler.
I've been riding on roads with horses for 40 odd years with loads of different horses and it's never been so difficult as now. Cycling has really taken off getting out in the fresh air enjoying the countryside (......hmm is that not what I'm trying to do?).

For those that seem to be inferring: I do hold 3rd party public liability insurance and I do hold my riding and road safety certificate. I have regular instruction from a BHSII (British Horse Society Intermediate Instructor) who acts as my coach as I like dressage and compete in that. I also hold my BHS stage 2 Riding and Horse Care exam (part way to being an instructor) so I am a reasonably competent rider with 40 odd years of experience.
I've had this particular horse for 4 years he wasn't in a good place when he came to me. He didn't like people and had shut down not wanting to bother with anything. He's now a completely different animal comes to call always wants to be with me and enjoys going out, so I must be doing something right. That's why I won't give up on him.

Hope the weather is good this weekend and we can all get out without getting drenched.

Didn't see a cyclist today first day in ages...have I frightened you all away?

I have joined this forum specifically to talk about horses and cyclists.
I never used to have a problem with cyclists (cycling was something I loved as a kid and still do, but I don't have the time to do it except on holiday).
Now I have a problem..... my horse is large (weighs 700kg) well trained and frightened of cyclists ..........why? .........because a cyclist hit him at speed and sped off after muttering something under his breath, with not so much of a sorry.......I wasn't doing anything just enjoying an afternoon hack on a quiet country lane. My horse up until that moment had no problem with cyclists....now he does.

I've spent hours with friends on bikes getting him used to bikes again. He was doing well until another cyclist nearly took him out on a blind bend going far too fast. The cyclist nearly killed himself braking very hard skidding all over the lane trying to stop. If I'd been a car travelling at the same speed there would have been a head on collision and the cyclist would probably be dead.

This horse means a lot to me and he's been ruined by inconsiderate and downright dangerous cyclists I'm back to square one trying to convince him that cyclists are nothing to worry about.

Contrary to a lot of misconceptions most horse riders are not rich. Most spend all of their income and time on looking after their mounts. They enjoy their horses as much as cyclists enjoy their sport.

I want to co exist quietly with other road users.
For those cyclists that are considerate, I really appreciate your kindness in letting me know of your presence when approaching from behind (it is hard to keep looking over your shoulder every few second just in case a cyclist is approaching). And to those that take heed at my requests to slow down and sometimes to stop (although I try not to ask them to do this), thank you, again it is very much appreciated. I always say thank you and wave if possible but sometimes my hands are full you may have passed me before you hear my thanks.
I don't want to have to stop riding (would you?), and yes I'd much prefer to ride off road, but generally you have to ride on road, to get off. I'm sure as a cyclist you would be upset if you couldn't go out because of the behaviour of other road users.
And to the cyclist at Cop Hill who swears at me and refuses to slow down or stop ......put yourself in my shoes it is your type of behaviour that has made my horse the way he is.