Oops... Horses
Riders really don't have it easy in the open countryside. The law on bridle paths is just as complicated as the regulations on compulsory leashes. Riders are not allowed to ride on pavements, not on cycle paths and vice versa pedestrians and cyclists are not allowed to use bridle paths. Even leading horses is actually not allowed on cycle paths or pavements. Anyone leading a horse must walk on the road, and on the right-hand side, because according to the StVO they are considered a slow vehicle and not a pedestrian. Any questions? Exactly, not every rider knows this, and if they do, there are enough who find it simply too dangerous, especially when traffic is heavy and drivers - who often don't know the rules themselves - honk their horns and tailgate, provoking a violent reaction from the horse.
A horse is quite a big, strong, reactive animal. But it is also lovable and that is why its rider likes it and wants to enjoy the time outside just like we dog lovers do. We should allow them to do that and not ruin their day by allowing our dog to bark at the horse or even jump on it or bite its tail or legs. It is easy to understand that the horse will fight back and that will end badly for our dog. We should also not allow our dog to jump towards a horse. Even if we can rule out that our four-legged friend wants to threaten the horse. If a horse shies away, it has a reaction radius of several metres in which no one is safe. With a bit of bad luck, a few powerful canter jumps follow, with which the horse - which is still a flight animal - wants to keep its distance before, at best, taking another look at the "threat". A good rider on a well-trained horse can quickly catch such a situation. It is still unpleasant. But there are also young horses on the road and not every rider in a group is experienced. That's what he's collecting now. That's why he's on the road.
How do I know if I can overtake?
The walking speed of horses is slightly faster than that of a marching human. Nevertheless, it can happen that we pass riders with the dog. For example, because they have taken a break.
Make yourselves noticed! Call out and ask if you can pass. If the horses are in the way, ask them to give you some space. Don't be afraid to say if the big animals worry you. Do not squeeze past or through the group. If you see that one of the riders is having a problem, for example because his horse is "fidgeting" or does not want to go past something, wait! The rider may not be able to interrupt the situation. Under no circumstances should you hit the horse's croup with the lead to make it move on or grab the reins (but there is such a thing).
Riders are coming towards us - you should never do that!
There are dog lovers who mean well and then make a cardinal mistake that can be dangerous for horses and riders. Therefore: Do not hide with the dog behind a tree or any other supposed visual obstacle. It is not the sight of the dog that can frighten the horse, it is its reactions. The sooner it sees him, the better. "But my dog barks like crazy when a horse goes by". That's the rider's problem and as long as you keep the dog with you and he doesn't pull you towards the horse, the vast majority of horses will cope fine. If your dog reacts particularly violently, warn the rider by calling out. Make sure you keep as much distance as possible or go back as far as you can to create more distance. You cannot hold your dog? Then the only thing left to do is to retreat so that no one is endangered. You should contact a dog training school today. The leash can also become a problem. If dragging leashes or extended flexi leashes wrap around a horse's legs, an accident is inevitable. Long lines rustling through the leaves will be seen by almost all horses as an approaching danger (e.g. a snake). Therefore: "Heel" past the horse - and everyone stays safe and sound!
And one more thing on the subject of paddocks (and of course all other pastures)
Please do not let your dog run into a meadow where horses are grazing. Horses are faster, stronger and not every horse likes dogs. A dog has no chance against an attacking horse. Conversely, there are also horses that want to flee from an approaching dog. This in turn stimulates the dog's hunting instinct. As a dog owner, you then have no chance to intervene. Serious accidents happen again and again when the horses fall or break through the fences (no fence can stop a continuous herd of horses). We dog owners are animal lovers. That's why we don't do anything like that and keep an eye on our dog.
No horses in the pasture?
Nevertheless, please do not let dogs on the areas. Dog poo in the grass is a health hazard for horses. Even worse are dug holes in which playing horses can injure themselves very badly or even fatally if they step into them at full speed. Apropos: Is your dog insured? Here you can get information from an expert at R+V Versicherung.
A nice lush meadow with tall grass - an invitation to romp?
Absolutely not. It is most likely a mowed meadow. Winter fodder grows here. Sticks left lying around or lost balls will clog and damage the mower or get into the fodder. A horse will not eat plastic. Cattle, on the other hand, will, and for them it becomes life-threatening. Dog poo contaminates the fodder so that the animals no longer eat the hay. Expensive and annoying for the animal owner! Please do not forget either: Grassland is a nesting and settling area in spring. Ground-nesting birds and small mammals sit here because they feel safe. We should respect this and not disturb them. For this reason, farmers are not allowed to mow at this time.
Attention electricity!
Most paddocks are fenced with electricity. To ensure that the horses accept the fences reliably, there is a lot of "boom" on the fences. Therefore, make sure that your dogs do not touch the fence. Children too, please.
Dog on the wheel! - Do not "wash past
The vast majority of horses in the field react calmly to bicycles, provided they hear or see them early enough. Horses and pedestrians alike are frightened when someone whizzes past them on a bike, possibly close. Please don't do this. Call or ring. You can also call out "ringing". The difference is the "span" of a horse. A horse can swing out. Not only to the back, but also to the side and it can aim very accurately in all directions when it feels frightened and attacked. If it stretches (and it probably will), it will still hit at a distance of three metres or more. Horses are peaceful animals. But they have an enormous capacity for reaction and they use it in an emergency. This also applies to carriage horses, by the way. (See the linked instructional video below). Therefore: make yourself noticed and please do not squeeze past. Bear in mind that it is also difficult to make a turn with a dog on your wheel.
Addition based on a reader's tip from a carriage driver: Please do not lean on the horse when passing (there are things).
And they leave the horse manure lying around.....
True, and that is a thorn in the side of many dog owners. Strictly speaking, riders have to remove horse droppings from roads, but not immediately if they are unable to do so. More and more riders come back later by car and take the droppings with them. Others dismount and push them to the side of the road with their boots. Taking horse manure directly with you is a bit complicated. The rider needs both hands on the horse, dangling bags are a real problem. Besides: horse manure is fertiliser and consists of plant fibres and water, because horses are pure herbivores. Their dung poses no danger to other living creatures (apart from collies with a genetic defect who eat dung from freshly dewormed horses). Horse manure (in contrast to dog poop) is the food source for a variety of valuable beneficial insects, such as a number of beetles that have become rare. That is why the droppings of a reasonably healthy ecological environment "disappear" quite quickly. By the way, there are exciting studies on this.
Just be happy when you see riders. Horses are a beautiful sight :-)
And if you now want to know how to encounter riders or carriages in road traffic: Here is a nice and informative video.