A beautiful morning for a run, and then I had an encounter with some horsey people.  3 miles into my run, I came to a gate and 4 horses with riders (1 woman, 3 men) were blocking my way.  I walked up and announced my presence by saying a good morning and asked if I could get by.  They moved to the side but I could tell were not happy to see me, and when I said good morning again, I got no response.  So on my way down a logging road and 1 mile later I hear gallops quickly approaching from behind.  Three horses were moving at a full run and I jumped off the left side of the road, just as the lady in front yelled "get out of our way".  I of course immediately got my Irish up and yelled "fuck you, share the trail you fat fuck" (I was very surprised I dropped two f-bombs, as it just came out).  She slowed down turned around and gave me a dirty look and then went on her way.  Then the fourth rider came up at a slower pace and I stopped him and asked what was up with the woman.  He said she told the group she wanted to scare me for being out on "their" trails but that he wanted no part in it.  He said she hated mt. bikers and hikers and I reminded him we were in a mixed use trail system, and he agreed.  He gave me her name, and after my run I stopped by the Rangers office (a friend of mine) and reported her activity as being potentially dangerous,  The Ranger knew her, and said they had another complaint about her last year, and he was going to contact her. WTF.

99% of the people I see in the woods are happy and friendly, so I just can't figure what's up when I come across someone like this.  I do regret cussing her out (and mentioning her weight), but it gave the Ranger a good laugh.

Sandy - I'm sure you daughter would never act like that, and nice story and pics.

Yeah it's a shame.

People in generally just seem to be getting more and more disrespectful.

I passed some horse people on our local rail trail about a month ago. It was way too soft for horses to be out there and they left huge divets for miles. I don't think they really even knew how much damage they were doing to the rail trail.  I don't know much about horse people, would more experienced ones steer clear when it's soft?

Also just fits in with dogs on trails. I love dogs. I don't love them when I'm running and they charge towards me. I wouldn't want to disrupt someone else's run by letting our dog run free on the trail. And most trail I run states that animals must remain on their leash anyway.  Just don't think that's courteous to other trail users.

NPS?   I'm always careful around horses on our mixed use trails, stopping and stepping aside is self preservation.  I'm always appreciative when the riders say 'thank you' (and notice when they don't).

 

It really only seems to take that 1% to ruin it for everyone.

Michaux State Forest in PA.

The overwhelming majority of my encounters with horse and riders has been positive.  This was just wrong lady on the wrong day.

The logging "trail" I was on is designated mixed use.  ATV and snowmobiles can use it from the End of deer Season until 3/31.  Horses can use it 4/1 until the Start of  Deer Season.  Bikers, runners and hikers can use it all year.

Reminds me of how horseriders behave in good old Europe (or Austria, for that matter). But I've never encountered anything like this in America.

This is actually dangerous behaviour, and I'd have reported her, too.

For horses leaving the trails wrecked, well, I guess if it's a mixed use trail, we'll have to deal with it. I like it about as much as I like the tracks that mountain bikers leave behind, terrible for running. But on the same account, I got mad when I encountered miles and miles of foot-deep footsteps in a packed-snow trail, in the middle of the narrow trail, so that it was almost unrunable.

When I'm in a good mood, I see it as special training for technical trails.

Sounds like she deserved what she was called.

I have to say that I have never had an experience like yours, and I run on horse trails a lot.  But if I do...  I only hope that I will be as eloquent and understated a speaker as you so obviously are...  I love it.  I do hope that the rangers give her an earful as well, although I suspect they will have to keep the f-bombs out.

Sounds to me that you did everything right in your first encounter, trying to avoid startling the horses and riders is key.  Especially on a mixed-use trail.

I think my DD totally gets it because we have ridden/run together a lot, plus she has started trail running herself.  She also rode Vermont 100 a few years ago and loved that the riders and runners were together (we hope to both go back and do it together at some point.)

I have to say the horse folks here can be quite insensitive, or they can be wonderful. Full disclosure, we live around horses and horse trails are a real part of the community and character of the town. All public trails are multi-use, and horses and hikers/runners are allowed (no mtn. bikes)

A certain segment of the community has access to private trail easements that are equestrian only. One of them goes through the property we live on, and people walk or run all the time.

That being said, often horse riders are disdainful (or fearful) of runners/hikers since they can spook a horse (rogue mtn. bikers have caused accidents on these trails). I always stop and walk past after announcing myself or let the horse pass, which is not always ideal if you have been running up a climb for a few miles and have a few more to go.

I have never been threatened, but I have had some heated conversations whenever anyone suggests it is their trail.

Glad you are ok.

FYI, the map of the inside trail race they held today (below) shows a good portion of the trails I run on.

Yesterday I ran to Wunderlich Park, up and across Skyline, and down through Phleger Estate (indicated on the map but not shown)

http://www.insidetrail.com/ai1ec_event/woodside-ramble-trail-run-spring/

A horse carrying a fat woman? I would have ran after them all the way to the trailer and taken my time with a very uncomfortable confrontation. It would have been the last time she rode on my trail.