Knowing what to do around horses……
As a general rule horses are skittish because they are animals of prey. Their innate survival response is to quickly respond to any perceived danger, and to flee strange and unknown objects.
Horses have different eyesight than humans and, in many cases, better eyesight. However, a horse’s ability to discriminate fine detail while focusing on something in the center of its vision is considerably worse than ours.
Knowing this information can help you when you encounter a horse on the trail or streets around Cave Creek.
If you are riding a bike on a trail and you see a horse and rider up ahead remember that the horse sees a strange object coming at him. To him it could be a mountain lion, bear, or any other predator. Stop and talk to the rider. Your voice will give reassurance to the horse that you are not a predator. And remember, horses always have the right of way.
From a distance horses can have difficulty identifying a hiker, especially if you have a dog or two. DO NOT hide behind a bush or cactus, but slow down or stop and talk with the rider. Again, this will give reassurance to the horse. You should not approach a horse unless you’ve been given permission to do so by the rider.
If you are driving your truck (or car, or motorcycle) slow down and yield to horses. Do not rev your engine or use your horn. Proceed slowly and cautiously, and look for any signal from the rider.
Horses are great to have around our western town. It’s great to see horses tied up outside a restaurant in town, strolling along Cave Creek Road, or out on the trail. It add to the ambiance of “way out west”!
So please, slow down, identify yourself if you’re out on the trail, and respect the horse and rider.
Gary & Deb Kermott, Silver Spur Therapeutic Riding Center, Cave Creek