Etiquette when passing horses

I encountered a rather frisky horse and rider, accompanied by a dog, down a lane this morning.

My usual plan when passing horses is to pass them as slowly as possible and give them as wide a berth as possible, on the basis that I don't want to spook them and I'd feel bad if the horse reared and threw the rider.

For the same reason, I don't call out, because it seems the cycling equivalent of driving slowly up behind a horse then sounding the horn.

The rider of the horse, presumably knowing it was frisky, was riding it down the grass verge of quite a narrow lane. As I passed, slowly, and on the far right of the lane, the horse took fright and the rider just about managed to stay on.

He then complained that I "Should have called out to let him know I was coming", or words to that effect. Surely if I'd slowly ridden up behind him then shouted 'CYCLIST!' he would have been complaining that I'd made the horse jump, probably from the ditch...

I have Hope hubs on that bike, so the freewheel is therefore pretty loud. And I'm used to riding past horses, I ride in the countryside a lot and have passed plenty without incident.

What is good horse passing etiquette though? It's not something I've thought about much before. I suspect this horse was basically too nervous to be out on the open road, but if it was my fault I'd like to know...

My sister (an experienced rider) says that you did nothing wrong. She reckons your policy is right but horses aren't a particularly consistent beast. Medium speed and a wide birth are the best plan.

I always shout "Morning!" or, today, "Merry Christmas!" from a significant distance, then pass slow and wide.

If riding with someone else I let them take the lead and when really close yell "getoutofthefuckingway" as loud as possible and as close as possible.
The as we pass I point at the other rider and shrug.

If riding with someone else I let them take the lead and when really close yell "getoutofthefuckingway" as loud as possible and as close as possible.
The as we pass I point at the other rider and shrug.

very good

I always call out, a cheery "morning/afternoon/evening*" normally, as it alerts both the rider and the horse that a human is approaching.

I was in a road race in the Cotswolds once, in a group of 30 or so approaching the finish when we spooked a couple of horses and one reared up and it's kicking front legs hit one guy on the helmet. He complained afterwards that it put him right off his sprint.

*delete as applicable

shidsy

As a horse rider, I tend to find it's mopeds and not bicycles that are most likely to send my horse careering sideways across the road. That said, horses can be unpredictable, and even horses that are pretty bombproof* can sometimes freak out about things they're usually fine with**. Shouting or bells may well upset some riders, so I just go for slowing right down, calling out 'passing on your right' and pass wide and slow, in the other lane if you can.

*not literally
**usually plastic bags

I ride past no handed, shouting "dooooggg meeeeaaatttt" in the style of an Uruk-Hai or The Kurgan from 'Highlander'.

My theory on shouting "hello!" from a significant distance is that a) it's conversational volume by the time it gets to the rider and horse and b) if the horse does go mental then at least I'm 300 metres away still

Lots of horses in these parts and based on advise from riders as well as experience, calling out beforehand to warn the riders and let the horse know we're only humans helps a lot. I always pass wide and slow having been close to a horse that kicked-out and broke a mate's ribs.

same as the above really, a polite hello/passing and then pass as widely as possible.

Shouting out "cyclist coming from behind you" is descriptive, leaves nothing to the imagination, is hard to misconstrue and is generally appreciated.

Better still, ride up quietly and then shout "boo" very loudly.

Similar to all above (joke posts aside), but I also tend to keep pedalling even if on a geared bike. Someone told me something years ago about freewheel noises potentially freaking out dogs and horses. Perhaps the Hope hub in the OP was an issue for this horse.

Actually the dog that bit me this morning did so just as i started freewheeling, with a Hope hub.

You got bitten? What, when, where...

Also, I was told years ago, flirt with the rider.
Apparently the horse senses the flirting, and focuses on the rider not the cyclist
I have no idea about the validity of this, but have had some serious fun with some horsey people

Actually the dog that bit me this morning did so just as i started freewheeling, with a Hope hub.

etiquette when passing dogs is totally different to etiquette when passing horses

You got bitten? What, when, where...

It was funny more than anything else- didn't break the skin, dog just latched onto my ankle as i went past it, i was about a metre away from it before it decided i was a chew toy.

The owner has no idea- happened behind her, and i couldn't stand the social awkwardness of "Merry Christmas, by the way i think your dog is hungry"

Social awkwardness is something I've learnt to offset by using moderate sociopathy.

the best way to pass a horse rider is to slap the back of the horse and shout OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII or give a strong pull on the riders leggings just so he knows youre coming, sometimes firing a flare gun helps but cant get hold of then as easy as Id like to. Hope it helps .

I just slip in a cheeky finger or two, calms then both down before they see you.

Approach slowly once you're at about 5m behind,
Take the plastic bag out of your jersey,
Fill with air,
Hold the open end tightly,
And Bang.

Finish with a nonchalant wave.

My mate Dave rides a recumbent and reckons you should aim straight between the legs at high speed and slap the horses cock on the way through.

Backhand to horse cock. Good call.
I guess you could do it from the side. (For those non recumbent riders)