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Bucked off your horse on the trail

ArkyKenny on 10/14/2012 09:40 PM

To the lady who was on her horse and got bucked off when I passed you on my bike: I heard you when you told me your horse was afraid of bikes. I did as you said and I waited patiently for you and your horse to get off the trail (like you said you would). I saw you stop, look, and nod at me (which I took as your way of saying "Go around me now"). I gave you and your horse as wide a birth as I could, and I went around you very slowly--I even went in the rough of the trail as I went by. I'm sorry you got bucked off. I did everything I could have done to keep us all safe. I'm sorry that it didn't work. I don't feel that, as you suggested, getting bucked off of your horse was my fault. Perhaps you were just embarrassed? Or mad at your horse?

And buy the way, MAYBE TAKING A HORSE THAT YOU KNOW TO BE AFRAID OF BIKES ON A BIKE TRAIL IS A BAD IDEA.

David Jensen from Blue Springs on 10/15/2012 11:52 AM

Thats too bad she was bucked off and hopefully she was alright. You are correct... you were NOT at fault. Sounds to me like you went beyond what most of us would have done and it just didnt work out. A Horse and Rider shouldnt be on the trail if the horse can't handle a bike rider coming by them. The rider was in the wrong in this case. Even asking you to stop is wrong... she should have gotten off the horse.

I hate hearing this kind of deal happen but it does.

Jim T. from Springfield, MO on 10/15/2012 12:19 PM

I am not familiar with horse etiquette. But I think the signs on the trail suggest that the bicyclist should announce their presence, then dismount and walk the bike if and when instructed by the horse rider. Sounds like good advice, as every horse has a different personality.

Anonymous on 10/15/2012 01:25 PM

From DNR's website:RIGHT-OF-WAY. When approaching oncoming users, always move to the right of the trail. Always pass on the left side, and make your intentions known by announcing your approach. Bicyclists should yield to pedestrians. Everyone should yield to horseback riders.

ArkyKenny on 10/15/2012 02:58 PM

Anon: I did slow as I approached the horse from behind. In retrospect, I wish I would have dismounted from my bike and walked it around the horse, but that thought did not occur to me. My bad. But I did yield until the lady got to the side of the trail/stopped/gave me "the nod". Then I went around. It was then that the horse bucked and fell on her. I was never closer than 25 feet from the horse. The good news is that she did not hurt anything but her pride.

My position remains: IF YOU HAVE A HORSE THAT IS AFRAID OF BIKES, BRINGING YOUR HORSE TO A BIKE TRAIL IS PROBABLY NOT A GOOD IDEA. It's good that nothing bad happened this time.

Anonymous on 10/15/2012 03:17 PM

Understood Arky. I posted that in reply to David who said that asking you to stop was wrong. Bikes are to yield, which may mean that you slow or stop.

And also in reply to Jim who said that he was not familiar with horse etiquette.

Jerry from Union on 10/16/2012 08:05 PM

If your horse is afraid of bikes, don't take it on a trail that has bikes. I don't think I should have to stop and dismount from my bike,especially after riding 60-80 miles under my own power. It should be that the horse and rider stop and dismount. The horse is the power, not the rider. Just like paddle, row, and sailboats have the right of way over any motorized boat, except where the power boat can not maneuver, such as a barge in tow. The horse can maneuver.

Sorry about someone falling, but if you know your horse is afraid of bikes, and the Katy has several, it would be prudent to ride somewhere else. If your horse was afraid of cars, would you ride down the highway? The Katy is a public trail and my opinion...and just my opinion...it is not a place for horses. Who picks up the poop?

Anonymous on 04/27/2013 08:41 AM

This is a god thread on horses and the trail. I thought I'd bring it back to the top.

Figs from Olathe, KS on 04/27/2013 12:28 PM

I read this when it was first posted last October and the following thought did not dawn on me until now: The comment that a person should not bring a horse onto a bicycle trail...

KT is not JUST a bicycle trail. KT is for horses in designated locations, walkers/hikers, runners and bicycles. It is intended to be a shared use trail. For that reason, there are passing rules. I did not realize that there was a written rule about getting off and walking a bike past a rider, and I have never encountered a horse on KT. But, knowing this rule, I don't mind getting my butt off the bike for a couple brief moments if it will make the trail safer and more enjoyable for ALL.

Now, let's just all get back out there and play nicely together!

Jim from St Thomas on 04/27/2013 03:22 PM

Figs.....you don't belong on the internet with that type of thinking! The internet is all about "us" vs. "them".

Doug from Bluffton on 04/27/2013 03:36 PM

NOW YOU TELL ME! All this time I thought it was just about "ME" ME ME ME! Of course, growing up my Dad kept reminding me that "rights" is spelled.... responsibility.

ArkyKenny on 04/27/2013 04:26 PM

OK Figs, I'll bite since I started this thread once upon a time.

I will agree to your point, that Katy is a multi- use trail, not just a bike trail. So if I don't like the possibility of encountering horses, or their waste, or their hoof marks on the trail, that's my problem to deal with as I see fit. (Which, by the way, I attempted to cordially do)

I also should have gotten off my bike and walked it around the horse. What also probably should have happened is that the horse rider should have gotten off the horse and steadied it if she knew it the horse would spook that easily (which she apparently did know).

The fact remains: There are a lot of bikes on Katy. So I will re-phrase my statement.

MAYBE BRINGING YOUR HORSE THAT IS AFRAID OF BIKES TO A MULTI-USE TRAIL, WHERE THERE WILL BE A BUNCH OF BIKES, IS A BAD IDEA.

Figs from Olathe, KS on 04/28/2013 12:10 PM

I say that we all get together somewhere on the trail, on the ride of our choice, and have a big group hug. I'll even bring a carrot for the horses!

ArkyKenny on 04/28/2013 12:30 PM

BRINGING YOURSELF, AND YOUR BIKE, AND YOUR HORSE THAT iS AFRAID OF BIKES TO A MULTI-USE TRAIL (that is commonly referred to as a bike trail because it is used by lots of bikes) FOR A GROUP HUG.........is a BAD idea. :).

Figs from Olathe, KS on 04/28/2013 02:57 PM

Kenny, do you have a bad expericance with horses or hugs in your past? Do we need to talk? I'm nearly 51 years old and have made more than my share of bad choices, but I'll take my chances and welcome ALL riders and runners on the KT. It's a State Park, right? So, isn't their tax money as good as anyone else's?? I don't live in Missouri, so I am riding the KT for free... maybe that has something to do about my liberal approach!! Would you be happier if they were riding a mule, or a small pony? Perhaps we can borrow an elephant and saddle it.... I rode one at a school funtion once.. or a camel, I saw that at a petting zoo, saddled for kids.

ArkyKenny on 04/28/2013 05:35 PM

I'm OK with seeing the horses. It's hugging the horses that I will pass on.

Seriously, I don't mind seeing horses on the trail. That is a good thing because the part of the trail that I tend to frequent is open to horses. What irritates me is that this lady thought that I was the reason she got bucked off. I will admit that I could have done better, but I'll also tell you that I did what I thought was right and proper at the time. Where was her responsibility in the whole incident?

It is not a good idea for alcoholics to buy soda at the liquor store. It is not a good idea for anyone to drive the wrong way on a one way road. And it is not a good idea to ride a horse that is afraid of bikes in a place where there will be lots of bikes. Or, you can be prepared for the consequences. But don't blame me for your choices.

Nancy from Skiatook on 04/28/2013 05:42 PM

If you are riding your horse on a public trail it is the responsibility of the horseman to make sure their horse is trained properly and that they can handle their horse. Horses don't buck from fear. They shy, rear or bolt but bucking is something entirely different. I ride both horses and bicycles. You could ride circles around my horse and he won't pay you any attention whatsoever. He has been trained that way. If your on a horse that shys so bad on seeing a bike that you fall off then you need to stay in a riding pen where you won't fall off. The trail should be a great place for both. Warning a rider that you are coming up from behind is good and might keep someone from getting kicked but the rider should always be aware of their surroundings. As a horsewoman I just have to shake my head every time i read about getting off a bike to walk it around a horse. People either train your horses properly or send them for training.

Brian from St. Peters on 05/22/2013 09:17 PM

Out of respect for all users of the Katy, I have determined that my my bike is not afraid of horses. I would suggest that horse riders do the same.

Lori from Portland on 10/15/2013 07:58 PM

it doesn't matter what kind of trail you are on everything yields to horse. Use your common sense you don't ride by a horse or come up behind a horse without letting him know you're there no matter how good a horse is on a trail. Horses can't see directly behind them. you know you're not supposed to walk up behind a horse because you might get kicked, so why would you ride up behind a horse. seriously to the bike rider, use your common sense. How stupid can you be. Do not tell the questions to find another trail to ride on you have way more trails to ride on then we do.

Anonymous on 10/15/2013 08:07 PM

Ok, questions find another trail to ride???