Just wondering if any of you ride on the roads ?
I have two dogs one of which barks like a lunatic at anything including horses on the road, so I want to know whether you prefer we drive slowly past with manic pooch or should we get by as quick as safely possible. We do pull up if it's safe and wait until the riders are as far away as possible before carrying on but that isn't always safe to do.

I'd also be interested in the responses from any horse riders too.

One of my dogs takes exception to horses sometimes, others he completely ignores them, whether he's in the car or not. I always try to avoid horses & riders just in case he makes a nuisance of himself & he's very easily distracted anyway so I don't generally have a problem, provided I see the horses coming. But I'd hate to be responsible for upsetting a nervous horse, especially with an inexperienced or child rider. This is less of a problem for me on the roads as I rarely walk my dogs on the roads, but bridleways in the countryside is a different matter.

I sometimes walk my dogs in a big country park through which race horse trainers ride horses to get to the gallops. I know that race horses can be highly strung & easily spooked but I recall one time hiding in the woods with a friend & her dogs to avoid these horses & it seems that the horses were more upset because they could only just see us, than if we had stood at the edge of the path in full view.

The short answer is horses are all individuals, like dogs and people, so it depends on each case.
Not very helpful but true
Some horses will be more bothered by a fast moving car than a barking dog, others will be more bothered about the dog.
Likewise some will be more bothered by something they can't make out, others will be more bothered by a noisy, agitated dog in full view. The answer there is maybe to hide more effectively so the horses can't see you at all
.

I ride regularly on both roads and bridleways and often come across excited 'barky' dogs. Its very helpful if the dog owner holds the dog's collar as we go past, that way I don't have to worry that it will suddenly jump at my horse and scare her, or from the dog's point of view it won't get injured if it gets under her feet or if she kicks out. Tbh most horses are pretty ok around dogs even loud ones! My horse just has a good look as she goes by. As long as the dog owner is being responsible then I would say it's up to the rider to worry about the horses reaction and be able to control it. After all we are all entitled to use and enjoy the paths! As for hiding in the trees, it would probably unnerve the horses more as they are aware of the 'danger' but can't see it.
With regards to dogs in cars, I would always advise passing wide and slow. Even if the dogs are barking like mad the horse is more likely to be spooked by a fast car going by.
It is so nice to see a non horse-bashing thread! So many people seem to think that horses shouldn't be allowed on roads, tracks (even bridleways!!) or anywhere really!
I say hello or have a chat to most people I see when I'm out riding, mostly dog walkers!

Well I admit in an ideal world horses would not be on the road with cars but we don't live in that ideal world so no need to bash each others choices as we can share !

So slow and wide even with barky dog - that will make it easier to decide, we have tried everything to stop him including me sitting on him but he still manages to make a racket

I always drive past wide and slow with horses, and we hold our puppy's collar, as she barks at the horses in a nearby pasture, however we are trying to desensitize her to horses as I want to get one possibly when I'm older and have the money.

I get annoyed when I'm out on rides and dogs just come up barking without leads and no owners to be seen. If I know I'm on a bridleway we put our pup on an extendable lead, whereas she would normally be off lead or on a short lead.

Well done for having your dog under control around horses but please be careful you don't have it extended when there are horses actually about as the cords are not always easy to see and can act like a trip wire
Even around other dogs extending leads should be in short or they can get caught up together, which can trigger panic or fights, or they can get friction burns from the cord if they get tangled up .

Thanks for the replies. I always have my dogs under control around horses as I'd never forgive myself if one of my dogs or the horse or rider gets injured. But useful to know that partial hiding is sometimes worse than being in full view. I can easily stop any barking by offering any small edible treat ~ seems that the love of food is far stronger than the fear of horses with my 2 dogs.

Likewise I agree we all need to share the highways & byways & respect each others' right to be there. My only gripe is with cyclists that approach from behind without any warning, going very fast. Sometimes this spooks one of my dogs & he'll rush after the bike, barking. Apparently it is always my fault as I didn't have my dogs under control! But as they both have very good recall, the simple ring of a bell or shouted warning would allow me to call them & hold them till the cyclist has passed.

Oh don't get me started on cyclists - we walk along the canal tow path have been doing it for 45 years forcing our way through the under growth growing across it, then a couple of years ago they cleared the path and called it the saturn way and designated it a cycle path - do the cyclists share ? do they heck as like ! They bomb along scaring the beejeezus out of walkers and dogs, last summer a dog was run over and killed there so we now walk else where. So selfish

Some cyclists are a menace (not all, I was a cyclist myself at one time, and was never so rude or thoughtless)

I was walking with my dog on a long lead a while back, when one came up fast behind us in stealth mode, terrifying us both, and nearly crashing into my dog, he shouted at me that I should get my dog under control, so I told him he should get bell

As for horses, my Danny seems stunned into silence by them and never makes a murmur as they ride past, although he barks like crazy once they are out of sight we always just stand to the side of the path, holding him by the collar or on a very short lead until they are past..and usually exchange a few polite comments with the riders, about the weather or amount of people about etc..most are considerate and its a pleasure to see them out and about on their beautiful horses

Only on one occasion have I had a bad experience with horse rider when walking on Bridle paths...two women went past on horses, we stood with Danny to the side, and as they went past, out of the bushes came two Great Danes who were running loose with the riders, they both went for Danny and barred their teeth at us when we tried to push them away...the women looked down ...one said "come" and off they trotted...leaving us to deal with their huge aggressive dogs, My OH had to pick Danny up, as he was so scared (hes a little Yorkie cross) and we had to shoo them away quite forcefully, the riders were well out of sight before the dogs eventually left us alone .. it was quite frightening at the time

Cyclists & dogs ~ not a good mix! I think many cyclists are considerate to dogs, & if I see a cyclist coming I always call my dogs to me & either hold them or distract them. But there are always the inconsiderate cyclists who think footpaths/bridleways etc are for their own personal use ~ never mind about walkers, dogs & horses.

It's the cyclists that come up fast behind me with no warning that bug me. Even without the dogs there's always a chance that I could wander across the path & be hit by a bike. I do appreciate that it's not nice being chased & nipped at by a dog so I do understand why some cyclists get cross with dog owners, especially the dogs that appear out of nowhere to give chase. But similarly a bit of warning from the cyclists allows most responsible dog owners to prevent any mishaps.

Yea, when we see a horse apporaching, we call her back to us and keep it short, as she is only small and I don't particularly want to spook a horse, and it is seriously scary for the rider, and I don't want my pup squashed.

I don't like using extendable leads, but we decided that it is safer to put her on that, so we know where she is when we are walking on bridleways, rather than her off lead and out of sight. We also have a slip lead for her, but she isn't old enough for us to use it, we want to wait until she is 12 months.

Most horses owners have dogs so horses tend to get used to them from a young age so there are rarely problems riding past dog walkers (if the dog is on a lead).

They tend to be better when they can see what is happening so tucking out of sight in the hedgerow etc isnt usually a good idea because they know something is there but dont know what it is so their pea brains go into overtime!!

My advice would be to keep the dog on a lead, dont make sudden movements, give the horse chance to have a look at what is happening and give them a little bit of space too.

Most riders will stop and let the dog have a look because its in their interests to help with any desensitising...alternatively ask if you can visit a local stables to let the dog have a look (extra welcome if armed with a bag or carrots or apples).

I have to say....what a lovely thread mollie.

I ride out on the road alot. My horse is pretty good with speeding cars... as long as theyre just normal standard size cars. Anything bigger and she has a flid if its going over 30. I'm a bit wary on our main road as it is as my field mates horse got killed as she was riding him out on it one morning.
My horse actually hates dogs. She used to be fine till some idiot let his dog chase her over the common where I was riding her... not she jumps about as soon as she sees one!

A friend's daughter was hit by a car whilst riding.

She survived, the horse died. Many drivers don't seem to be aware of the presence of riders, walkers and cyclists on country roads and lanes.

I passed a rider yesterday wearing a high vis jacket with "please pass slow & wide" written on the back ~ a good reminder to inconsiderate drivers.