Horrible Trail Etiquette
- Thread starter sanjuro
- Start date
I wouldnt call it buzzing, he most certainly slowed down. However could he have slowed down more, yes. Keep in mind helmet cams make you look like you are going faster than you actually are. I think he could have slowed down a bit more but I dont think what he did was "horrible" either. "Horrible" would have been him not giving a damn and flying by the horse without slowing down.
el douche' enorme.
that horse was spooked, i don't care how much he slowed down...he should've stopped.
that horse was spooked, i don't care how much he slowed down...he should've stopped.
I don't think that horse was spooked, if you watched closely the rider tugged on the left side reigns, which is why the horse jerked to the left. So the rider was pulling the horse out of the way of the bikers. And the bike rider slowed down a great deal. He could have stopped, but it looked like the equestrian and the biker visually acknowledged each other long before the pass.
Looks like he slowed down a fair bit when he saw the horse and it wasnt really his fault the horse got scared.
He could have stopped after the horse panicked (sp? ) but it would have been too late anyways.
Stupid horse...
He could have stopped after the horse panicked (sp? ) but it would have been too late anyways.
Stupid horse...
In the bike riders defense that was a relatively blind corner, there was a large bush that the horse was behind when the rider came around the corner. HOWEVER I always make sure to slow/stop and let the equestrian either wave me by or let them pass. We have horses up on the old ATV trails that we shuttle and I've had to bail through the woods a couple of times to aviod them. Still not horse a fan but they have as much right to be there as we do.
I dunno. I have multiple feelings on this issue.
A) I hate ponys on trails. HAAATE. For multiple reasons. Poo, erosion, ecosystem destruction, attitude, etc.
B) Members of the redneck Idaho side of my family who probably cumulatively own 100 horses have told me that if a horse can't deal with a bike passing them in close proximity, it shouldn't be out on public land.
C) I recognize that the equestrian lobby is extremely wealthy (and thankfully, dying out) and holds much sway over land managers and park services, therefore we must play nice.
A) I hate ponys on trails. HAAATE. For multiple reasons. Poo, erosion, ecosystem destruction, attitude, etc.
B) Members of the redneck Idaho side of my family who probably cumulatively own 100 horses have told me that if a horse can't deal with a bike passing them in close proximity, it shouldn't be out on public land.
C) I recognize that the equestrian lobby is extremely wealthy (and thankfully, dying out) and holds much sway over land managers and park services, therefore we must play nice.
The horse wa broadside across the trail on the other side of a blind corner. If he wa spooked and jumping around stopping there may not be safe either. Kind of a boring trail though...
Screw Mr. Ed, turn him into dog food.
If your horse cant deal with others on the trail it should not be on said trail. There are plenty of equine only trails they can use. On that note people do insist on riding green horses on trails. I always ALWAYS stop and let the equestrian pass. They have the right of way, as do hikers. I do on occasion take a mule onto local trails, but that is usually for doing some trail maintenance.
poor trail ettiquette. I've seen firsthand what can go wrong with horse vs bike encounters. It'll take you 30 seconds to not make a scene. Dismount and take off your helmet.
Do I think cyclists should have to do this? no. Its just that most equestrian riders are dumb rich b*tches who couldn't tell their snatch from a gopher hole, and its not worth getting into an argument with someone who has the IQ of a rutabaga. As Ron White said, you can't fix stupid.
Do I think cyclists should have to do this? no. Its just that most equestrian riders are dumb rich b*tches who couldn't tell their snatch from a gopher hole, and its not worth getting into an argument with someone who has the IQ of a rutabaga. As Ron White said, you can't fix stupid.
Yes that was bad trail etiquette. The descending trails around here are built on steeper side slopes than that particular one, so the likelihood of a horse falling off trail and rider and horse dying are possible.
Also that is not a DHer or that a downhill trail for the record, just because you're running a full face...
Anyways what should have happened is that rider should have stopped, dismounted his bike, and calmly talked to rider and horse. But it wouldn't surprise me if that person is oblivious or doesn't care. Could be he was wrapped up in making one of the most boring videos of mountain biking i've ever watched.
Yes the horse lobby is strong, they are in Wilderness and we are not. Could be that they are well organized and do perform quite of bit of trail work other than being "rich".
Not going to argue their impacts, but not going to ally myself with a biker bitchfest about them either, particularly considering this particular thread, video, and comments therein. If i was an equestrian i'd pass the link of this thread around and laugh at the stupidity, but most i'm sure would get quite pissed.
Also that is not a DHer or that a downhill trail for the record, just because you're running a full face...
Anyways what should have happened is that rider should have stopped, dismounted his bike, and calmly talked to rider and horse. But it wouldn't surprise me if that person is oblivious or doesn't care. Could be he was wrapped up in making one of the most boring videos of mountain biking i've ever watched.
Yes the horse lobby is strong, they are in Wilderness and we are not. Could be that they are well organized and do perform quite of bit of trail work other than being "rich".
Not going to argue their impacts, but not going to ally myself with a biker bitchfest about them either, particularly considering this particular thread, video, and comments therein. If i was an equestrian i'd pass the link of this thread around and laugh at the stupidity, but most i'm sure would get quite pissed.
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I agree many equestrians are rich a holes. But when they are signing checks to you for feed delivery, and mucking stalls that take take very little time, you cant complain. Most of the rich snotty ones ride english, western riders are pretty laid back.
I have come close to being stomped and killed by horses on two seperate occasions, both times I stopped and was waiting for the horses to pass. The women(both times) riding scolded me for scaring the horse when I came within inches of being stepped on by a horse.
No amount of courtesy can cure the ineptitude and incompetence of rich "equestrians" in california.
No amount of courtesy can cure the ineptitude and incompetence of rich "equestrians" in california.
He was lucky to have that encounter at that wide section of the trail. That could have been way worse. Although nothing compares to the etiquette in that french alp video posted a while back.
I have no problem with horses. They are beautiful, noble animals. The horse riders, on the other hand...
And yeah, pretty lame "DH" trail too. Looks like something Partsy and I used to single speed on. Guy probably drinks Diet Mt Dew. And listens to Air Supply. Totally non extreme.
And yeah, pretty lame "DH" trail too. Looks like something Partsy and I used to single speed on. Guy probably drinks Diet Mt Dew. And listens to Air Supply. Totally non extreme.
"trail maintenance" is that what kids are calling it nowadays?
The video was no longer available, so I could not watch it. I do agree that if your horse is spooked by a bike rider or other trail user you should not be on the trails. I once spooked a horse on my road bike. The horse and rider were on the other side of a two lane road and about 50 feet off the road. This was in a county park that was fairly popular. I did not feel sorry at all when I passed and saw the horse start freaking out. Why would you ever take such a skittish horse into a park that sees lots of traffic?
if that had been me and my old horse Porter that DH would have been pedalling for his life as we chased his ass down the trail. No my horse wouldn't have spooked and as an old Rodeo Pick up horse he kind of liked racing Mt bikes on the trail. It would be me seriously pissed off going after his ass to give him the what for. Wonder how he would feel with a 1000 pound horse a couple inches off his backside at 35 mph
Yeah, from the video it looked like the biker slowed down considerably, and when he saw the equestrian pulling the horse away from the track both to clear the way and keep him and his horse safe the biker seemed to think it was safe to continue.
But then again since a horse is a living creature it can be unpredictable when spooked. We couldn't really see the line of sight of the biker, maybe the horse has been moved farther away than what we can see so he decided it was safe to continue without doing a full stop.
But then again since a horse is a living creature it can be unpredictable when spooked. We couldn't really see the line of sight of the biker, maybe the horse has been moved farther away than what we can see so he decided it was safe to continue without doing a full stop.
that would make you a psychopath.
And you didn't know that?
To be honest, if there's a ton of room and I can get around the horse quickly and out of the damned things way, I would probably try to avoid slowing down just to spend the least time possible around the horse - so long as it doesn't endanger anyone in the parties of anyone besides the horse rider. If the horse is poorly trained and skittish, it is their problem. I hate being anywhere NEAR privately owned horses that are not trained and get skittish. If I come across them on narrow singletrack, I've been known to climb up or down the hillside well out of the horses range because I don't trust them as far as I could kick them.
That said, he came pretty friggin' close to the horse in that vid, like within kicking distance easily. More importantly, he also endangered his riding buddy behind him.
No pity for the guy on the horse though. Again, if he hasn't trained his horse properly, then he has nobody but himself to blame when he's taken for a joyride.
That said, he came pretty friggin' close to the horse in that vid, like within kicking distance easily. More importantly, he also endangered his riding buddy behind him.
No pity for the guy on the horse though. Again, if he hasn't trained his horse properly, then he has nobody but himself to blame when he's taken for a joyride.
I think a few people are have lost sight of 2 facts. IMBA policy is that the mountian bikers stop and let the horse pass when meeting on the trail. The second is if the horse had bucked and the person riding the horse was hurt the trail could end up being closed. If you do not stop and make way for a horse on the trail you are wrong and creating more people against MT bikers
The trails I ride on often in Philly were horse trails long before anyone ever thought of putting fat tires on a bike... so we show horses a great deal of respect. As for "training" a horse... well how do you expect the horse to gain experience with sharing a trail with bikes? Hypnosis? Be real. It gains experience like anyone else - by doing. To assume a horse should be trained to be on a mutli-use trail is just stupid. Perhaps that day IS part of the training...
I always stop when I see a horse on the trail, regardless of how much room there is. If the rider says it's fine to pass, then I say 'thank you' and proceed. Most I've encountered are greatful for the courtesy. The simple fact is they are sitting 8 feet off the ground on - and at the mercy of - a large animal that by nature tend to skittish and easily spooked. While most wear helmets these days, that's still a long fall and bone-breaking injury is almost guaranteed.
As one of my horse-owning friends once told me, "Big beautiful animal... tiny little brain..."
I always stop when I see a horse on the trail, regardless of how much room there is. If the rider says it's fine to pass, then I say 'thank you' and proceed. Most I've encountered are greatful for the courtesy. The simple fact is they are sitting 8 feet off the ground on - and at the mercy of - a large animal that by nature tend to skittish and easily spooked. While most wear helmets these days, that's still a long fall and bone-breaking injury is almost guaranteed.
As one of my horse-owning friends once told me, "Big beautiful animal... tiny little brain..."
Yup. We don't meet horses on our trails often, but I definitely pay them respect...they are beautiful animals and I would hate to be the reason someone lost a trail or even worse, got injured because I couldn't take a minute to do the right thing.
It's very cut & dry.
Horses spook easily, get off your bike well in advance and asked the rider if it's okay to walk your bike past the horse.
Remember,, the equestrians usually have the money and the backing to get the mountain bikes off the trails. So respect them whether or not they deserve it, it could go a long way in keeping the trails for everyone's enjoyment.
Living here in the hippie capitol of the world, you have to learn to play by the rules. As much as it does suck big time.
Horses spook easily, get off your bike well in advance and asked the rider if it's okay to walk your bike past the horse.
Remember,, the equestrians usually have the money and the backing to get the mountain bikes off the trails. So respect them whether or not they deserve it, it could go a long way in keeping the trails for everyone's enjoyment.
Living here in the hippie capitol of the world, you have to learn to play by the rules. As much as it does suck big time.
Not just the redneck lobby - that seems to be the attitude of people who have working horses ( ie, trained trail horses, pack horses, horses that haul out dead elk and so on) over large, expensive pets. This isn't license to spook them of course; it just shows a range of attitude.
Large, expensive pets spook easily. A solid, well trained to be bullet proof (literally, not shying from guns etc) horse does not spook at anything.
I'm going by Bay Area experiences.
I look at it this way, I'm out there to enjoy my hobby and enjoy being in the wilderness. I would hate to have my ride ruined because someone else was too lazy to slow down and/or give a little space for both of our sakes, or some crazy hiker jump out in the middle of the trail causing me to crash. Its just plain mutual respect. Give it, and you'll get it.
You clearly have not ridden in Santa Barbara or some other oddball hiker-intensive places around SoCal haha.
stop trying to justify acting like a doushe.
I wasn't trying to justify it. I was just recalling a couple incidents where a hiker literally jumped out in front of me or whoever was in front in my group to give us a lecture. Nowhere else would you encounter that kind of retarded-ness.
Douche or no douche, I just do whatever it takes to keep my proximity to a skittish big animal to a minimum for a minimum amount of time. I could be standing still letting the horse pass and something else entirely could spook the thing and I'd get fvcked. I've seen that happen too. Big reason why I simply just avoid the things as much as I can, regardless of what rules are in place. Not saying I agree with what the dude in the video did at all though, that was somewhat careless and dumb.
Douche or no douche, I just do whatever it takes to keep my proximity to a skittish big animal to a minimum for a minimum amount of time. I could be standing still letting the horse pass and something else entirely could spook the thing and I'd get fvcked. I've seen that happen too. Big reason why I simply just avoid the things as much as I can, regardless of what rules are in place. Not saying I agree with what the dude in the video did at all though, that was somewhat careless and dumb.
Thanks for the clarification.
The bottom line is, the cycle of animosity between the use groups needs to stop. Sometimes hikers are in the wrong, sometimes cyclists, sometimes equestrians. Sometimes its all of the above. It's the self-righteous a$$holes who need to realize that they are only perpetuating the animosity (and in a growing number of unfortunate cases, violence). Once they realize how crucial it is to share the limited resources in these areas (private land is a different story), incidences of use group vs use group will become the exception, not the rule.