Got lectured by a horse rider on my run today...

He was telling the horse to halt, not you.

You should have bellowed, “Yeah and the horse you rode in on!”

Good point — the "halt" was probably not directed at me.

Regardless, he was clearly very mad at me about something I did.

you were not in the wrong. Horse riders are giant a$ss holes. Next time tell him the horse should ride him and that you find animal slavery wrong.

What else did he say? If he just yelled halt, he was obviously yelling at the horse who may have started to go faster or something. How do you know he was mad at you and not at the horse?

I was able to pick out a few things he yelled (something to the effect of "Hey, runner, what the f-ck!...You can't pass a horse like that!") that made it clear he was angry at me. I just couldn't tell specifically what it was that I did wrong. I've always assumed I could continue running by so long as I got out of the way and gave the horse plenty of space.

He was of the typical equestrian varietal — tight, skin-colored riding pants tucked into the shiny boots, etc. — so my immediate impulse was that he was just a douche. But if I actually did break any kind of etiquette, I'd like to know about it.

I run trails where horse riders frequent. What I have learned is that they can be easily startled and in most cases I slow way down especially if passing from behind where they can’t see you coming(don’t want to get kicked that’s for sure). Could be the rider thought you were going too fast.

shooba wrote:

— so my immediate impulse was that he was just a douche. .

Look in the mirror son.

I run on trails often too and I am sick and tired of mountain bike and horse riders...

I am all for sharing the trail, but are they?

Every time I encounter one of these losers it typically results in some sort of negative expression or words?

Sickntired wrote:

I run on trails often too and I am sick and tired of mountain bike and horse riders...

I am all for sharing the trail, but are they?

Every time I encounter one of these losers it typically results in some sort of negative expression or words?

If problems happen "every time" then you might be the cause of the problem. You might consider adjusting your attitude, approach, or deodorant especially if you consider all of them losers. I assure you that they all are not losers.

You say that you moved well out into the road to pass him. If this was potentially dangerous in his mind, what does he think will happen when a car goes past at the speed limit?

I don't think you did anything wrong. Maybe you could have given a "on your left" call when you were still 50 feet back, but that is all I can think of.

Huge controversy here about etiquette on the trails. I always give the horse (s) the right of way by stopping if they are coming towards me, or giving a "heads up" and stopping if we are going in the same direction. Then, it's up to the (lead) rider to tell me how to proceed. I've never had a rider scold me with this approach. As a matter of fact, every one of them has been kind and appreciative. What's a few seconds?

Tro56 wrote:

What else did he say? If he just yelled halt, he was obviously yelling at the horse who may have started to go faster or something. How do you know he was mad at you and not at the horse?

He was not yelling at the horse. Anyone that clueless would not be out riding alone. A horse is not a dog. No-one uses verbal commands to control a horse they are riding. You control a horse beneath you with reins and feet / knees.

RI red wrote:

Huge controversy here about etiquette on the trails. I always give the horse (s) the right of way by stopping if they are coming towards me, or giving a "heads up" and stopping if we are going in the same direction. Then, it's up to the (lead) rider to tell me how to proceed. I've never had a rider scold me with this approach. As a matter of fact, every one of them has been kind and appreciative. What's a few seconds?

I feel like this is the best answer on here.

Whenever I've encountered a person riding a horse on a trail, I was told a few things. First is they always have the right of way. Second, if it's coming towards you, you stop until they pass by you and even then, wait a few seconds. If you are both going in the same direction and you come across one, you either stop or slow to a walk and call out to the rider that you are behind them. More than likely, the rider is going to proceed to stop the horse and tell you to pass, but you don't start running again until you are 5 to 10 seconds past they horse.

I'm guessing the OP is either trolling or doesn't realize that a lot of horses spook easily (yes even ones with a rider on them). They also, as adults weigh between 800 and 2000 lbs. You get kicked or charged at, it's not ending well for you. Keep this in mind the next time you decide you want to run up on one from behind (even separated by a small amount between trail/road).

hoss whispererer wrote:

Tro56 wrote:

What else did he say? If he just yelled halt, he was obviously yelling at the horse who may have started to go faster or something. How do you know he was mad at you and not at the horse?

He was not yelling at the horse. Anyone that clueless would not be out riding alone. A horse is not a dog. No-one uses verbal commands to control a horse they are riding. You control a horse beneath you with reins and feet / knees.

Um, lots of people use verbal commands.

You don't have to do ANY of this. People shouldn't be out riding unless their horse is bomb proof or they can cope with people just moving around normally without killing anyone.

The idea that non horse people should know all the "rules" is equestrian entitlement at its finest.

Wolf's Bane wrote:

Horse riders are giant a$ss holes.

In what I call the "trail *sshole ratings", horse riders nowhere near the biggest...From my experience it's been (starting with the worst):

1. ATV riders (if you are on "their" trails)

2. Mountain Bikers

3. Horse Riders

4. Hunters (they are usually awesome when you come across them because they think you are crazy for running)

5. Other runners/hikers.

two things:

1) any guy who isn't a cowboy that rides a horse is a douche

2) horses can spook even at something "off to the side", so it is a good idea to give the rider a warning as early as possible

Trail Boss wrote:

You don't have to do ANY of this. People shouldn't be out riding unless their horse is bomb proof or they can cope with people just moving around normally without killing anyone.

The idea that non horse people should know all the "rules" is equestrian entitlement at its finest.

You're right. You don't HAVE to do any of what I said. Let me know how it turns out for you.

Look, an overwhelming majority of riders understand what you said and wouldn't take a horse out on trails until they knew it wasn't easily spooked....BUT....think about your reaction the last time someone scared you....now apply that an horse weighing 1500 pounds and you being on top of that horse.