Comments on: It’s a Horse, of Course http://adventuresonabike.com/2009/05/19/it%e2%80%99s-a-horse-of-course/ My Cycling Journal Sat, 05 Mar 2011 11:54:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Arlyn http://adventuresonabike.com/2009/05/19/it%e2%80%99s-a-horse-of-course/comment-page-1/#comment-1009 Arlyn Thu, 21 May 2009 23:25:01 +0000 http://www.adventuresonabike.com/?p=1324#comment-1009 Thanks Scott! Thanks Scott!

]]> By: Scott http://adventuresonabike.com/2009/05/19/it%e2%80%99s-a-horse-of-course/comment-page-1/#comment-1008 Scott Thu, 21 May 2009 21:02:41 +0000 http://www.adventuresonabike.com/?p=1324#comment-1008 Yeah the "no bicycles" sign is very sad. Throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Great post by the way. Yeah the “no bicycles” sign is very sad. Throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Great post by the way.

]]> By: Arlyn http://adventuresonabike.com/2009/05/19/it%e2%80%99s-a-horse-of-course/comment-page-1/#comment-1007 Arlyn Thu, 21 May 2009 18:38:00 +0000 http://www.adventuresonabike.com/?p=1324#comment-1007 Hi Scott, all good points. I certainly don't expect people to stop riding horse, nor should they. I just want to share and share alike. Hi Scott, all good points. I certainly don’t expect people to stop riding horse, nor should they. I just want to share and share alike.

]]> By: Scott http://adventuresonabike.com/2009/05/19/it%e2%80%99s-a-horse-of-course/comment-page-1/#comment-1005 Scott Thu, 21 May 2009 18:20:24 +0000 http://www.adventuresonabike.com/?p=1324#comment-1005 A few reasons for different treatment come to my mind: 1) People have been riding horses a lot longer than bicycles. I don't think we can or should expect people to stop riding horses just because a lot of people have taken up mountain biking. 2) Horse poop is not that far removed from hay, unless it's particularly fresh. Dog poop, whether fresh or old is always nasty. Excrement from herbivores is much more benign than that of carnivores. Of course, they do make those diapers for horses. 3) A few bad apples have ruined mountain biking for the majority of courteous cyclists. Some people feel they have personal ownership of trails and the result is that horse riders who have negative encounters with bicyclists will advocate to their local governments to get bicycles off the trails. Since bicycles are the new kids in town, ordinances usually favor the horse. 4) Horses are always afraid of being eaten. It is a base instinct for them. They are always on guard for mountain lions and wolves, and a human on a bike can be a very scary thing for a horse. You never know a horse's temperament, so when you encounter a horse, it's best to dismount, talk to the rider to establish a level of trust between all involved (including the horse) and let the horse pass. Not that you didn't already know all this stuff. Just wanted to throw it out there. A few reasons for different treatment come to my mind:
1) People have been riding horses a lot longer than bicycles. I don’t think we can or should expect people to stop riding horses just because a lot of people have taken up mountain biking.
2) Horse poop is not that far removed from hay, unless it’s particularly fresh. Dog poop, whether fresh or old is always nasty. Excrement from herbivores is much more benign than that of carnivores. Of course, they do make those diapers for horses.
3) A few bad apples have ruined mountain biking for the majority of courteous cyclists. Some people feel they have personal ownership of trails and the result is that horse riders who have negative encounters with bicyclists will advocate to their local governments to get bicycles off the trails. Since bicycles are the new kids in town, ordinances usually favor the horse.
4) Horses are always afraid of being eaten. It is a base instinct for them. They are always on guard for mountain lions and wolves, and a human on a bike can be a very scary thing for a horse. You never know a horse’s temperament, so when you encounter a horse, it’s best to dismount, talk to the rider to establish a level of trust between all involved (including the horse) and let the horse pass.

Not that you didn’t already know all this stuff. Just wanted to throw it out there.

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