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Main Boards => General Walking Discussion => Topic started by: Steve922 on 00:50:14, 27/09/17

Title: How to deal with horses?
Post by: Steve922 on 00:50:14, 27/09/17
How do you behave when walking through a field with loose horses in it?  I needed to walk through one today which contained about a dozen horses. I feel very nervous walking past (or within galloping distance!) of any animal bigger than me and especialy those which might bite and kick. Any advice?
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: ninthace on 08:43:21, 27/09/17
Act like you are meant to be there and greet them in a friendly manner. Remember they are prey animals so they should not be aggressive unless they feel threatened. Don't enter their space, don't corner them and don't take a dog with you.
Some horses may approach you as they are used to human interaction. If they do, be friendly. Some like a stroke on the nose or a pat, some are just curious, they are not coming to attack you. If you end up close to a horse, the back end is the most dangerous bit but it has a limited range, so stay clear.
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: rambling oldie on 08:46:18, 27/09/17
Horses in a field will most probably be used to humans, having been schooled for riding or draught.  Humans are the ones who feed them, groom them and take them for runs!
The only thing to avoid is walking directly behind a horse and close to it.  Might confuse them and make them kick back. Ears flattened back are a sign that's likely to happen.
I generally make clicking noises and speak to them.  Some may wander close to you, but they're just looking for goodies to eat.  Some of my rambling group give horses polo mints - don't, the sugar isn't good for their teeth.
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: rambling oldie on 08:50:29, 27/09/17
I should have said if you give them anything to eat, use the flat of your hand so they don't accidentally bite your fingers. All you'll feel is a dry warm snuffling sensation, almost an affectionate feeling. As ninthace says, they expect human interaction.
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: gunwharfman on 09:04:40, 27/09/17
All good advice. Horses, cows, dogs, pigs, the things us hikers have to put up with, never ending!


Luckily, I may have had past problems with cows, pigs and dogs but I've never yet met an unfriendly horse.
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: Percy on 09:19:59, 27/09/17
I wild camped when walking the Weald Way. One night I hadn't found a spot before nightfall but then found the perfect spot - a stand of trees in the corner of an apparently empty field. When I woke up in the morning the tent was surrounded by horses.  ;D
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: Islandplodder on 10:39:46, 27/09/17
I'm a bit nervous of horses myself, they tend to be big.  Next time I find myself walking through a field of them I will try to remember all these reassuring comments!
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: ninthace on 10:40:56, 27/09/17
Luckily, I may have had past problems with cows, pigs and dogs but I've never yet met an unfriendly horse.


The only British  farm animal that has ever attacked me was a Welsh cockerel - attacked me from behind and it hurt too! He didn't like me chatting to his ladies.
A  French cow that wanted to eat the bit of grass I was standing on while a took a picture of a mountain stuck its horn up my backside but that wasn't an attack, I was just in the way, it barely stopped munching. No injuries but Mrs N laughed like a drain.
Never had a problem with horses but Mrs N is nervous round them, keeps asking me to come away but I enjoy talking to them.
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: Steve922 on 18:49:43, 27/09/17
Thanks for the advice chaps. I can maybe walk a little easier - but they still scare me!  :-)
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: pleb on 10:31:12, 28/09/17
Keep calm n talk to em nicely, works for me.
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: Whitby Mick on 06:24:32, 29/09/17
I remember staying on a camp site in the New Forest when despite notices warning people not to, some were feeding titbits to the ponies. One pony went into someones tent looking for more and finished up galloping around the field with the tent draped over its head. It caused quite a bit of damage but fortunately nobody was hurt.
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 11:27:07, 29/09/17
With extreme caution.
Many years ago, on a farm at Pengam, near Gelligaer in the Rhymney valley in the South Wales valleys, there was this magnificent hunter, that was alway's immaculately presented, and obviously well looked after.
How many hands, he was, i have no idea, but he was huge, and extremely aggressive.


In hindsight, and answering this post, i can never remember seeing another horse or animal in the field, so obviously he did not get on well with other horses.

There was a small right of way, that crossed his extensive field, opposite a long stone wall, so all that was protecting the public from him, was this stout rope.

There was roughly body length distance between him and me.

I regularly visited a good friend living in Penpedairheol, i still keep in touch,  and every time i opened the turn gate, and he was in the field, he went ballistic, and galloped at speed towards me.


To avoid his field, was a four mile detour, and it was an easy 400m from the start of the right of way, to its finish.

You simply knew, that if you had been caught within harms way, he would have gone for you, no questions asked.

Highly strung was putting it mildly, he was obviously well looked after, as his coat glistened, but even though it was over thirty years ago, i will never forget him.


I was considerably younger back then, and it was always a Usain Bolt sprint along the perimeter of his field, to get away from him. very scary.


Since then, i have always treated large animals with caution, both cows and especially horses.
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: Andies on 12:20:56, 29/09/17
Mrs A got bitten by a horse a few years ago. Changes your view somewhat  :-X


That said I'm more bothered by cows with calves especially those that stopped us progressing along the Pennine Way last week. Seemed very unhappy that we were there, so we found another way  :(
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: sussamb on 12:46:37, 29/09/17
Yes, I had to detour off the PW around cows with calves when approaching Greenhead in May.
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: Murphy on 13:23:56, 29/09/17
Likewise Sussamb near Greenhead but sadly I was injured on being charged.  Bruising and cuts to my face and cuts to my thighs and legs.  Then similarly on PW chased by horses on approaching High Cup Nick at dusk.....but we survive to tell another tale.
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: Andies on 14:22:19, 29/09/17
That's interesting sussamb and Murphy,  as near Greenhead is where we encountered these cattle, just after "Todholes" heading south on the Pennine Way. They were strung across the entire field not allowing any easy way round or through. One cow with a calf was particularly unhappy. Mrs A strangely was more confident than I about proceeding but I called a halt and we retreated taking a more direct route up to Blenkinsopp Common. It involved a small trespass but the route did appear to be walker friendly with appropriate climbable fence and gate where needed.

Very glad we did this after reading your comments Murphy :o Hope you are OK.

It sounds like these cattle shouldn't really be on the Pennine Way if they are that agressive :-\
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: sussamb on 14:54:36, 29/09/17
That's exactly the same place!  I also encountered those same cows and calves (well maybe not quite the same ones!) when I went that way in 2012.  Clearly it's where the farmer puts his cows/calves  :)
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: pauldawes on 18:27:16, 29/09/17
Mrs A got bitten by a horse a few years ago. Changes your view somewhat  :-X




Yes...I just never believe those bits of advice that include never or always when dealing with living creatures. I treat any large farm animal with caution. I agree that you're more likely to get aggro from certain breeds of cows (than horses), but I've certainly experienced aggro from horses...or a very convincing impersonation of it.

Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: Ridge on 18:57:03, 29/09/17
I've had 2 horses rushing up and rearing at me as soon as I entered their field so that I backed out quickly and took a diversion.
2 weeks later same horses, same field, completely ignored me as I tentatively made my way past.
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: micmac on 20:24:26, 29/09/17
Try and be confident when around horses, easier said than done if you are wary of them. Don't ever feed them as the owners don't like it incase you feed something that the horse can't have, i had one that i had to  be very careful what i fed him or he got aggresive. Talk to them so they know that you are there, they have 2 blind spots, directly in front of them and behind them and being there can scare them and make them kick out in fright as they are flight animal. It's cows i don't like being around even though i don't mind helping my friend at TB testing time and i happily move the cows around.
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: happyhiker on 14:08:31, 30/09/17
Whilst walking with a group two or three years ago, my wife was charged and knocked over by two horses. The group was well spread out along a legitimate footpath, on the edge of the field and well clear of the horses at least at the start of our crossing. Fortunately she was not hurt but shaken. We had done nothing to distract the horses and had no dogs with us.


More recently, I went across the same field. It was empty but some horses ( can't say if the same ones) were in the next field. They went completely ballistic when they saw me, galloping around and I was very glad they were not in the footpath field!


I did report the incident involving my wife to the local footpaths officer but needless to say he was a waste of space.
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: Penygadair on 17:10:04, 30/09/17
Walking up Crimpiau from the Llyfnant valley, I came across these ponies.


(http://i59.tinypic.com/29eqf05.jpg)


Obviously as they had a foal with them I was a little wary so using the same technique as Pleb I spoke to them quietly and soothingly most of what I said being pure nonsense and gibberish.
The path turned left immediately after passing the ponies and there sat an elderly couple having a picnic chuckling to themselves about the rubbish they had obviously overheard. Red faced I walked on.  :-[

Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: fernman on 18:55:28, 30/09/17
Surely those ponies would only have understood Welsh?
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: BuzyG on 23:20:46, 30/09/17
Being 6ft 4 I'm taller than most animals I encounter on walks.  Possibly that gives a false sense of security.  Horses are the one animal, encountered regularly, that is taller than me.  Add to that the fact that they can close you down very quickly and they can be a little intimidating on occasion.  Never had any trouble with them though, plus I have some great photo's of a few close encounters. 


Shame I can never seem to up load to this site, without using third party hosts .
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: barewirewalker on 12:07:34, 01/10/17
Some interesting comments.


It is the farmer in me, having spent my first career in farm management, that probably is the reason I tend to take note of the sex of the animals in a field as well as their breed.


Hunters and riding ponies will usually be fillies or geldings, stallions do not seem to be too frequent grazing loose. These are the animals I would be most wary off.
The owners of these would probably have their mares served at stud farms. It is the wild mountain ponies, welsh ponies and welsh cobs, where the mares run with a stallion as a herd. I have seen a stallion deliver a very strong kick to a mare just too keep her in order. If this kick were delivered to a walker it would definitely smash a femur.


The prequel to a horse delivering this sort of kick is fairly obvious, in its body language, but the obvious thing is not to get into range. I think the main danger if close up to large horses, is the risk of been trodden on. Draught horse are very big and heavy, don't go near them when they want to lie down and have a roll  ;) .


Small, children's riding breeds especially Shetlands can be biters. I have learnt this and more from having spent 45 years organizing horse parades at a county show.


But the most telling lesson from those years, vice and bad behaviour is rare in the horse, though I cannot say that for the 2 legged individuals, who all to often sits upon these gentle creatures.



Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: Penygadair on 13:35:02, 01/10/17
Surely those ponies would only have understood Welsh?


 ;D ;D  Like me they were bilingual.
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: DevonDave on 20:26:07, 01/10/17
Being 6ft 4 I'm taller than most animals I encounter
Wow, 6ft 4in!  How on earth do you fit into your ZX?  Do you have to have the roof down?  ;D
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: BuzyG on 16:43:55, 03/10/17
Wow, 6ft 4in!  How on earth do you fit into your ZX?  Do you have to have the roof down?  ;D


LoL indeed I do Dave. O0



(http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff300/BuzyG/Scotland%202016/Day3-05.jpg) (http://)


There you go.  :)
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: jimbob on 16:51:44, 03/10/17
There's a few horses there, BuzyG
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: Ridge on 18:09:33, 03/10/17

LoL indeed I do Dave. O0

Explains why you have your hood up in your picture.
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: Slogger on 20:24:24, 06/10/17
Some years ago my wife and myself upon entering a field with a drainage ditch alongside the path, almost got pushed into it by three horses that came charging down. They were pushing us with their noses and wouldn't stop. We eventually managed to move swiftly away. I'm ok with other animals, cows, bulls etc but have been wary of horses ever since, although not had any similar experience.
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: eddycreative on 12:22:09, 11/10/17
Some years ago my wife and myself upon entering a field with a drainage ditch alongside the path, almost got pushed into it by three horses that came charging down. They were pushing us with their noses and wouldn't stop. We eventually managed to move swiftly away. I'm ok with other animals, cows, bulls etc but have been wary of horses ever since, although not had any similar experience.


Omg lol
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: thomasdevon on 11:08:37, 13/10/17
I meet Dartmoor ponies almost every time I'm up there. Sometimes cattle too. As with all animals, avoid getting between parents and young, skirt round the herd if possible, make a noise on approach so you don't startle them. Dartmoor ponies are not tame so offering titbits would be unwise.
Title: Re: How to deal with horses?
Post by: Doddy on 14:53:30, 19/10/17
Horses have a good sense of smell and like to sniff you. On the TV once I noticed the Queen put her fisted hand, fingers down, towards the horse; better than an open palm when it can still get at your fingers. I reckon that is how the Royals are taught-I have done so ever since..