Horses on Greenways - Your Thoughts?

Cakewheels

I've recently met a group that have done trojan work advancing a Greenway Project (relatively early stages but good progress with landowners and good prospects for funding). In general I was really impressed, but was a little concerned that it is being promoted at the moment as also being something for horse riding.

I personally wouldn't like to cycle around horses, particularly in a confined space of 3m wide that might be fenced in on both sides, as I have read some horror stories from the UK about how easily spooked horses can be by cyclists.

I had thought that the Mayo Greenway did not allow horses but am I wrong about this?

The local authorities are expected to fund public liability insurance, but would that not also be more expensive if there are greater risks as a result of horses sharing with pedestrians and cyclists?

Who would clean up the mess they would make?

magicbastarder

i head off on a spin most sunday mornings from the riding stables my wife goes to for lessons. i've been warned by her not to bring the bike near the sand arena beside the car park because it could end up with a rider being dumped off a horse if it sees me on the bike.

fits

Cyclist and horse rider here. There is very little safe off road riding in Ireland. Its criminal really considering our reputation as horse country. I think nearly everywhere in Europe has more off road options available. Cyclists can appreciate what drivers can be like. Its worse when you are on horseback as a lot of drivers just don't appreciate how quickly a horse can move.

Re cyclists and horses sharing a greenway, its true that a relatively silent cyclist can spook a horse when they appear suddenly from behind in the peripheral vision without any audio warning first. That can set a horse off. However horses are very adaptable and get used to these things quickly. Bit of cyclist education about calling out or ringing a bell when coming from behind (and still a distance away) would help too.

ratracer

I haven't cycled along the green ways yet, but I see them as something I would do with my kids. IMO it would be incredibly negligent to let horses ride on a narrow confined pathway where children may be cycling. I wouldn't like it as an adult, let alone with children. Horses for courses as they say, and cyclists on cycle paths.

diomed

When I was a child there were plenty of horses, horse and carts, on the road, and plenty of cyclists. No problems. Then cars became more numerous and now car drivers think roads are for cars only.
As long as the horses are walking and the cyclists are going slowly there won't be a problem on Greenways. If horses are galloped or cyclists are speeding then not so good. Use common sense and everyone will be safe.

Lumen

I regularly cycle around those pony and trap things in Dublin city centre. They're unspookable.

What do they call that? It must be some sort of sport because the drivers are wearing sportswear.

fits

Its called driving actually . ITs a big sport in some parts of the world.

sconhome

Interestingly I first came across the idea of greenways when I was in England. There they convert old railway lines into 'bridleways' but are used by runners, cyclists and pedestrian alike.

The other thing there is the surface is crushed and rolled gravel / dust which is what I would have thought would be ideal for the Irish greenways. TBH I was quite surprised to see mile after mile of tarmac being rolled out as a greenway which I expect is not best for horses and probably is more the reason that restrictions are placed on greenway use (?)

eeeee

What fits and diomed said.

Cyclists and horse riders can happily co exist with a bit of consideration on both sides. Horse riders are as entitled to routes as bikes, no more no less. If you apply common sense there is no danger, let a rider know you're there, don't blast silently by, if you do so you can expect to spook the animal, which can result in either rider falling or a kick for yourself.

Horses become habituated to things, if they get proofed to trains for example, or low flying aircraft they don't spook where a human would (!). They get used to the fact there is no threat in the noise and don't start, where as people are surprised by it, horses recognise the sound. it's often more rider fear than equine! Point being they can accept cyclists very well provided they meet them in a positive way. It's very, very difficult to dislodge/ over ride an equine bad memory.

There's a thread on cycling around horses, it was up recently enough. I can't link on The phone. They are not machines, and like people are inconsistent as a breed!

eeeee

Lumen wrote: »

I regularly cycle around those pony and trap things in Dublin city centre. They're unspookable.

What do they call that? It must be some sort of sport because the drivers are wearing sportswear.

Sulkies. Its called harness racing and they are usually a combination or one of two breeds- trotters or pacers (they do a trot but instead of the legs working diagonally they work laterally together). Proper racing animals can trot / pace at the speed of a normal horse gallping. It's big in France.

The ones around town are actually very sad a lot of the time. They are frequently very young, only 2 or 3 and hammered on tarmac. They don't last long. Some not all.

Tracksuits make them faster.

ROK ON

Lumen wrote: »

I regularly cycle around those pony and trap things in Dublin city centre. They're unspookable.

What do they call that? It must be some sort of sport because the drivers are wearing sportswear.

A few years back I raced against one.
For a few weeks in a row I would meet two young fellas out on a horse (piebald) and trap around the back roads of Leixlip/Celbridge/Maynooth.
One night I was stopped at a level crossing and they were also there. We got talking that they always saw me and asked me was I training for a race. I said I was just training. They challenged me to a race and would give me a head start. They caught me on a small rise near the obelisk at Kilmacraddock. Bit of a laugh.

Borderfox

Coming from both sides cyclists and horses can coexist quite happily together with some education on both sides.

Maidhci

I would be more concerned about the behaviour of the riders than the horses! Horses, left to their own devices would, I am sure be able to adapt and become habituated to the presence of cyclists over time. However, I would be totally opposed to allowing pony trekking on greenways given the width of the paths and the fact that the cycle/walk path is fenced off in places. Additionally, I have first hand experience of the manner in which certain pony trekking groups behave on beaches where they show blatant disregard for children and bathers alike. If this behaviour were to be replicated on a greenway, it would render it unsafe for cycling. I presume it is a power factor for the riders given the relative strength of the horse / human etc. etc.

fits

Maidhci wrote: »

I. I presume it is a power factor for the riders given the relative strength of the horse / human etc. etc.

:rolleyes: here we go. Maybe you have an inferiority complex?

There are inconsiderate d1cks in every walk of life and neither cycling or horse riding are exception.

eeeee

In the same way you get dickhead
drivers and cyclists, you get dickhead riders. They are in the minority thankfully, and you don't gallop horses on tarmac, ever. A bigger problem with horses is people over estimating their abilities. They would tell me they have done/do/ can do this that and the other but haven't a clue when you put them on a horse. A novice cyclist isn't going to do as much damage to himself and his top flight carbon road bike as a novice rider on the equine equivalent.

How riding is taught now is changing, and a lot of adults have started to take it up, which is great but apart in a few, very rare exceptions don't have 'feel' and never will(equally some will ride all their lives without it!). This matters as its like a 6 th sense in a horse, and gives you a lot of extra competency than those without. This is the biggest problem. Riders. Horses can deal with a lot so as a cyclist stay well behind, alert the rider to your presence and pass with as much room as you can possibly manage. If it all goes a bit pear shaped you're conversely a lot better off as close to their bodies as possible, so there isn't as much power in the kick.

Ultimately no matter how good a rider you are you can never control a horse 100% of the time, so as a cyclist pass as wide and slow as you can to mitigate risk for yourself, the horse and rider.

tomasrojo

Lumen wrote: »

I regularly cycle around those pony and trap things in Dublin city centre. They're unspookable.

What do they call that? It must be some sort of sport because the drivers are wearing sportswear.

Many are from the Umbro family.

CatFromHue

gadetra wrote: »

Ultimately no matter how good a rider you are you can never control a horse 100% of the time, so as a cyclist pass as wide and slow as you can to mitigate risk for yourself, the horse and rider.

I agree with you and on a quiet two lane country road I'd cross over to the side to pass out.

The problem on the greenway, which I think the OP is getting at, is that the greenways will be narrow so it's much harder to give the horse any room when passing.

eeeee

CatFromHue wrote: »

I agree with you and on a quiet two lane country road I'd cross over to the side to pass out.

The problem on the greenway, which I think the OP is getting at, is that the greenways will be narrow so it's much harder to give the horse any room when passing.

Announce your presence, and the rider will let you know when it's safe too go by

Lumen

tomasrojo wrote: »

Many are from the Umbro family.

Italian equestrians! How marvellously multicultural.

monument

CatFromHue wrote: »

The problem on the greenway, which I think the OP is getting at, is that the greenways will be narrow so it's much harder to give the horse any room when passing.

Agreed.

Three meters is narrow enough for a shared path between cycling and walking, with children and adults of all abilities -- adding horses to the mix does not seem like a good idea.

loughgill wrote: »

I had thought that the Mayo Greenway did not allow horses but am I wrong about this?

You're right. Horses are not allowed on it.

rollingscone

Lumen wrote: »

I regularly cycle around those pony and trap things in Dublin city centre. They're unspookable.

What do they call that? It must be some sort of sport because the drivers are wearing sportswear.

The city centre is eternally awash with 'athletes'

bambergbike

The countryside is there to be shared, and if cyclists are too picky about who they are willing to share with, they will end up with less access to traffic-free routes than they might otherwise have enjoyed.

If the width of greenways is inadequate for sharing with horses, that's an argument for wider greenways, not an argument against horses.

FirstinLastout

Assuming that any potential shared greenway is wide enough to allow me and the horsey to pass each other without frightening the jeepers out of ourselves I’d at least consider the possibility of sharing ‘cept for one particular issue.
My bikes, while occasionally leaving bits of themselves behind, don’t leave great big steaming piles of manure on the road or trails.
Most MTB’ers will know of the pleasure of scrapping crap from their knobblies; while I encounter horses quite often in Union Wood, Ballyhoura & other similar routes at least we are genuinely off-road and I don’t have an issue (excepting where it is a purpose MTB trail).
On a purpose built greenway, particularly with the rolled gravel surface that seems to be standard choice, I’d be less enthused about encountering horse nuggets.

When I’m walking with my dog I bag & remove his little presents and when we’re shreading off-road I’ll stop, stick it and flick it off the trail so that it does not imposition other users or pose a potential health risk.
I’ll pull up other selfish dog walkers who let their dogs crap anywhere without thought but I just can’t see the horse owners dismounting and removing their animal’s dung from the greenway or bagging it.

ratracer

^^^^^^^ Very good point ^^^^^^

Macy0161

The greenways have been marketed as safe for families to cycle on. Speaking as the owner of a few horses (so the nippers are used to and respect horses), I don't think its appropriate to have the geenways as they currently are effectively redesignated as bridlepaths. Just adds a level of unpredictability that the greenways are supposed to take out if the equation.

It'd put me off bringing the children on them, if this was the plan tbh. There's a few trails/ fire roads around me that are either official or unofficial bridlepaths that would otherwise be good for the children but I wouldn't bring them. Have to say the horse crap, on top of the inevitable dog crap is also a factor. Just all adds up.

Chartsengrafs

I agree that horse poop would be a pain to deal with but IMO it's nowhere near as bad as dog cr@p. It's mostly re-constituted grass, hay etc. I unfortunately run through both sometimes, and I know that one is considerably worse than the other.

Edit: having said that, I cycled the Mayo Greenway last week and loved it, but would be nervous enough if I had to pass horses on it. Maybe I've been in the city too long..

eeeee

Giving out about horse poo in the country seriously? Man that's depressing. Increasing urbanization has left people with little understanding for how the country works and why, the nature of it, and that it's also a business*. Having roads covered in shyte is absolutely not on, I'm not saying that. But animals occasionally have to me moved, horses have to be exercised and naturalized to traffic. If you go down the country there's gonna be crap on the road. It's a lot more natural than flying around on a bike in Lycra! (And I say that as someone who does both, although I don't ride horses anymore I breed.) You have to consider where you are.

*A family moved in down home from the city and went around the neighbors giving out when they cut silage that they had ruined his view. People like that make me fear for the future of human kind!

Bit OT there sorry. On the horses and Greenway, it's really fine as long as you announce your presence.

rollingscone

I came across a guy on a biiiiig horse on my last spin around Meath, the horse looked edgy and the guy was genuinely pleasantly surprised when I stopped and clipped and beckoned him to pass me.

Considering I have to negotiate whole cooked chicken eating, mobile sofa driving centres of the universe on every spin, I think I can spare a few seconds to let a much more pleasant class of road user pass.

petethedrummer

bambergbike wrote: »

If the width of greenways is inadequate for sharing with horses, that's an argument for wider greenways, not an argument against horses.

What about the argument for smaller horses?

eeeee

rollingscone wrote: »

I came across a guy on a biiiiig horse on my last spin around Meath, the horse looked edgy and the guy was genuinely pleasantly surprised when I stopped and clipped and beckoned him to pass me.

Considering I have to negotiate whole cooked chicken eating, mobile sofa driving centres of the universe on every spin, I think I can spare a few seconds to let a much more pleasant class of road user pass.

:eek::eek:

magicbastarder

should we allow mahouts riding elephants on the roads too? let's push this one as far as it will go.

Esroh

rollingscone wrote: »

I came across a guy on a biiiiig horse on my last spin around Meath, the horse looked edgy and the guy was genuinely pleasantly surprised when I stopped and clipped and beckoned him to pass me.

Considering I have to negotiate whole cooked chicken eating, mobile sofa driving centres of the universe on every spin, I think I can spare a few seconds to let a much more pleasant class of road user pass.

Rollingscone

Hand on heart he was probably surprised for 2 reasons .1. He was not feeling any edginess and was wondering why you were worried. 2. He would know that 99.99% of other road users generally see a horse and go past as fast as possible. So to meet as pleasant a fellow road user as yourself did probably cause him to question his opion of the human race.

rollingscone

Esroh wrote: »

Rollingscone

Hand on heart he was probably surprised for 2 reasons .1. He was not feeling any edginess and was wondering why you were worried. 2. He would know that 99.99% of other road users generally see a horse and go past as fast as possible. So to meet as pleasant a fellow road user as yourself did probably cause him to question his opion of the human race.

I did spend a small but concentrated part of my life riding horses, I've a pretty good idea of when they look agitated. Having made the mistake of riding a horse too close to another horse that didn't like it, I definitely remember the signs.

It looked like neither horse nor rider were having a good day.

FirstinLastout

gadetra wrote: »

Giving out about horse poo in the country seriously? Man that's depressing. Increasing urbanization has left people with little understanding for how the country works and why, the nature of it, and that it's also a business*. Having roads covered in shyte is absolutely not on, I'm not saying that. But animals occasionally have to me moved, horses have to be exercised and naturalized to traffic. If you go down the country there's gonna be crap on the road. It's a lot more natural than flying around on a bike in Lycra! (And I say that as someone who does both, although I don't ride horses anymore I breed.) You have to consider where you are.

*A family moved in down home from the city and went around the neighbors giving out when they cut silage that they had ruined his view. People like that make me fear for the future of human kind!

Bit OT there sorry. On the horses and Greenway, it's really fine as long as you announce your presence.

But it’s not the countryside nor is it a country road that is been discussed, it is a potentially new greenway which will be a public amenity for use by cyclists, runner, walkers etc. and potentially it would seem horse riders too.
Dog owners are forced to pick up after their dogs in public, at the beach, promenades, public streets etc. otherwise they face a fine if caught.
It is their responsibility to look after their animal and to ensure that their choosing to own & enjoy their dog does not inconvenience or pose a health risk to others.
There are many areas in which I can’t walk my dog or access with him, there are many reasons for this but usually it is about protecting an area, service or amenity for the benefit of all.
The likelihood is that with any new greenway there’ll be signs in place instructing dog owners to pick up after their dogs, for the benefit of all users this should be expected from all greenway users.

As regards increased urbanization leaving people with little understanding for how the country works, the countryside will be on both sides of any new greenway where they can see cows, sheep, horses, lama, giraffes, yaks & wildebeest happily bouncing around the place watching the grass go in one end and crap come out the other.
They don’t need to walk their adidas through it to figure out where crap comes from.
Anyways, it seems that the vast majority of horse owners mentioned in this thread are urban dwelling.

Unless one's animal sh1tes caviar then take it home with you.

eeeee

FirstinLastout wrote: »

But it’s not the countryside nor is it a country road that is been discussed, it is a potentially new greenway which will be a public amenity for use by cyclists, runner, walkers etc. and potentially it would seem horse riders too.
Dog owners are forced to pick up after their dogs in public, at the beach, promenades, public streets etc. otherwise they face a fine if caught.
It is their responsibility to look after their animal and to ensure that their choosing to own & enjoy their dog does not inconvenience or pose a health risk to others.
There are many areas in which I can’t walk my dog or access with him, there are many reasons for this but usually it is about protecting an area, service or amenity for the benefit of all.
The likelihood is that with any new greenway there’ll be signs in place instructing dog owners to pick up after their dogs, for the benefit of all users this should be expected from all greenway users.

As regards increased urbanization leaving people with little understanding for how the country works, the countryside will be on both sides of any new greenway where they can see cows, sheep, horses, lama, giraffes, yaks & wildebeest happily bouncing around the place watching the grass go in one end and crap come out the other.
They don’t need to walk their adidas through it to figure out where crap comes from.
Anyways, it seems that the vast majority of horse owners mentioned in this thread are urban dwelling.

Unless your animal sh1tes caviar then take it home with you.

Dog business causes cows to abort, neosporosis. It is dangerous for children also. There are very serious consequences to dog poo being left around the country or town.
Horse poo on the other hand is fermented grass. Just that plain and simple. It's very inoffensive compared to dog poo. Vegetables are grown in it! Almost all meat produced in this country is grown off grass fertilized by slurry, their own effluent. Vegetarian animal excrement is a whole different thing to carnivorous.

I guarantee your dog has been and will go to more places than any cattle, sheep and horses will.

And yes, the countryside is only about animals eating and pooing. I must pass that on. We've being doing it wrong for centuries. Who knew it was so easy :rolleyes:

petethedrummer

Has anyone asked the horse for his opinion?

FirstinLastout

petethedrummer wrote: »

Has anyone asked the horse for his opinion?

Don't bother, he's full of crap!

FirstinLastout

gadetra wrote: »

Dog business causes cows to abort, neosporosis. It is dangerous for children also. There are very serious consequences to dog poo being left around the country or town.
Horse poo on the other hand is fermented grass. Just that plain and simple. It's very inoffensive compared to dog poo. Vegetables are grown in it! Almost all meat produced in this country is grown off grass fertilized by slurry, their own effluent. Vegetarian animal excrement is a whole different thing to carnivorous.

I guarantee your dog has been and will go to more places than any cattle, sheep and horses will.

And yes, the countryside is only about animals eating and pooing. I must pass that on. We've being doing it wrong for centuries. Who knew it was so easy :rolleyes:

And that’s pretty much true but I never said that it was health alone; also common courtesy for other users.
I don't need the obvious pointed out to me as regards how the happy little lamb ends up wrapped in cellophane on a supermarket shelf, I'm not one of the disconnected urban dwellers.
I know the benefits of manure as I’ve barrowed enough of the stuff out of stables in my life as well as digging it into the garden or casting it upon the fields ‘least I did before the slatted shed.

Aran Islands, Killarney and numerous other places here and abroad where horse manure in public areas is now considered an issue, again not always down to health, for actions to have been or are been implemented.
Strangely it seems only ever to be horse owners/jarveys etc. that complain about such measures.

Anyways enough crap talk!

smacl

FirstinLastout wrote: »

Unless your animal sh1tes caviar then take it home with you.

Hmmm, not sure about caviar, but how about maltesers? Anyone cycling Wicklow in the early morning will be well used to the odd game of sheep slalom, where you know damn well that the one who decided to stay on the other side of the road to the rest of his buddies is only going to change its mind when your just in front of it. Farmers moving cattle on the smaller roads is also a regular event, as are people on horseback, a few goats and even the occasional deer. I kind of like it, as it adds colour to the day, and only adds risk if you decide to do something risky yourself in terms of passing animals. Animal crap in the countryside certainly wouldn't bother me at any level.

I haven't been on the Mayo greenway for a couple of years, but all the gates and cattle grids would probably make it impractical for horses. Once you allow mixed use on a narrow cycle track, such as dogs on or off leads, I don't see horses making that much of a difference. From a tourism perspective you might well have some families that would want to cycle one day, and get out on horseback on another.

bambergbike

magicbastarder wrote: »

should we allow mahouts riding elephants on the roads too? let's push this one as far as it will go.

Walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and mahouts on elephants are already allowed to use public roads by right.

Drivers of motor vehicles can use the roads, too, but not by right - only under licence.

JBokeh

I met a couple of horse riders on a fire road in the Ballyhouras once,just stopped for a second for them to make sure the horse didn't get spooked,they waved me on so I went past them slowly,then gunned it up the hill so the horsey women would think i'm daycent :pac:

On the other hand I went through some horse crap at a fair speed on the trail section of the course,and it detonated and went everywhere,but horse crap isn't dirty so I didn't really mind,just rubbed the backpack in the grass to clean it,but if you come up on a horse on that section it's a safe bet that it will get an awful fright,and someone will be getting hurt

Expecting horse riders to pick up the crap is a bit much TBF,maybe poke it to one side so children won't be running through it. I'd rather cycle through a mile of horse or cow turds than hit one dog poop,it is like mastic when it comes to cleaning it off tyres and frames,and it is possible to get some nasty disease from it.

Us giving out about having to share a greenway with horses that crap and are easily frightened is like drivers giving out about having to share the road with cyclists that pee in ditches and get frightened. It's not hard just to slow down and wait for the rider to wave you on. Though they should be paying greenway tax, wearing hi-vis and have number plates stapled into the horses ass :P

ROK ON

I witnessed a Garda horse take a dump close to the entrance of a shoe shop on Grafton street. The Garda needless to say just cantered away.

I think that this is fine in a rural grassland area, but is unacceptable in an urban street. I do not believe that people should be allowed to use horses (Gardai or the pony and trap hires) in an urban setting. It is left to others to clear up the mess. Not such an issue in countryside, parkland, forest etc.

rollingscone

ROK ON wrote: »

I witnessed a Garda horse take a dump close to the entrance of a shoe shop on Grafton street. The Garda needless to say just cantered away.

I think that this is fine in a rural grassland area, but is unacceptable in an urban street. I do not believe that people should be allowed to use horses (Gardai or the pony and trap hires) in an urban setting. It is left to others to clear up the mess. Not such an issue in countryside, parkland, forest etc.

I thought the Garda mounted unit used Nappy type things? (For the horses too!)

eeeee

ROK ON wrote: »

I witnessed a Garda horse take a dump close to the entrance of a shoe shop on Grafton street. The Garda needless to say just cantered away.

I think that this is fine in a rural grassland area, but is unacceptable in an urban street. I do not believe that people should be allowed to use horses (Gardai or the pony and trap hires) in an urban setting. It is left to others to clear up the mess. Not such an issue in countryside, parkland, forest etc.

I can guarantee the guard did not canter on Grafton street, they don't trot down there never mind canter.
Horse droppings are clumps of fermented grass. That's it. They're not pretty, but given the rare presence of them in Grafton street I doubt there will ever be enough there in enough of a quantity to make it an issue.
There is an awful lot worse deposited on Grafton street on a regular basis, horse manure is way down the list of unpleasant things to be found there in fairness!

Ridden horses can't wear nappies. The trap / carriage guys on stephens have to for their license. I have never seen one on any horses put to a sulky!

ROK ON

You most certainly cannot guarantee something that you did not see.
There were two mounte Gardai on respective horses on Graftin St earlier during the summer circa early lunchtime.
One horse defecated.

Perhaps you are implying that they should not have been there. Maybe that is the case - I don't know. I do know ghT they were there. I know this because I witnessed it.

eeeee

You're right, I can't guarantee something I haven't seen. I will rephrase, it is highly unlikely they cantered away. One one of the first things you learn when riding horses is not to canter or gallop on the road. It's riding 101. The only time I have seen it done is if a horse bolts, spooks, or otherwise take off, or in hunts the odd time or irresponsible owners. It damages the ligaments and tendons in a horses legs. The garda mounted unit are well schooled in equine care, and unless it's for crowd control and even at that I can't see them cantering into a crowd of people. Grafton Street is rarely quiet and the horses they use are extremely rare, in that finding one with the temperament, type, height, breed and mentality to do the job is very difficult. They don't risk them unnecessarily, I have spoken to them a number of times. A horse I bred was trialled for the police over in England but he couldn't hack the lack of turnout. They're not like cars, you damage a leg it's a big, big problem.

No reason why they shouldn't be there, but I find it hard to believe they cantered off down Grafton street. Walk, trot even, but nothing faster. I have seen them these myself a few times, it makes my day to see a horse in town! (I'm really sad I know )

FirstinLastout

Did I hear right that mounted Guards were reduced due to cut backs?

I used to often chat to the Guards when I'd meet them, when living in Dublin, about their horses and always thought that it was very positive for them in regards to the public and interacting with them.
Always parents with their kids approaching them, even the addias wearing How'ya pony club members would chat away to them.
One thing I remember was the amount of young ones chatting the lads up was unreal on a weekend; telling 'em I'd a couple of donkeys keeping the grass down back in Sligo wouldn't have gotten me anywhere.:(

magicbastarder

ROK ON wrote: »

You most certainly cannot guarantee something that you did not see.

'canter' is not the horse equivalent of 'saunter'.

Muahahaha

I wouldnt have a problem with horses using greenways, but I think it has to be in single file.

The other side of it though is the type of greenway. If its a rural greenway built for leisure purposes then I think cyclists and riders can co exist without problems. But if its a green way like the Royal or Grand Canals inside the m50 then I'd see those type of routes as commuter routes more than leisure and as they are inside the m50 there would be potentially a lot of horse owners who would use them as well as being busy with cyclists. I could see conflicts if something like that was allowed, I'm not even sure if it is or not at the moment ?

Interesting topic, Id never known that there is little or no places for people to ride horses in public. I'd never really thought about it as I not a horse rider but you'd think there might be a few public trails around for them but there seems to be nothing.

FirstinLastout

REBELSAFC

I think it is a safety problem rather than a poop issue. A big horse on a narrow greenway facing a young family of cyclists isn't the ideal situation.
The solution is simple though and is in the planning. These greenways are a relatively new development and there are bound to be lots of new ones planned for the next 5-10 years.
If there is a demand for horse trails then plan a horse trail parallel to a cycling/running greenway. The added cost would be minimal and the horse riders could benefit from any services (cafes etc) along the greenway. I would however question how much demand there would be to use a horse trail on most greenways.