Horses: modern ones selected from what stock?

[Flinders]

I think the risks riders and horses ace are depressingly similar to ours as cyclists, so maybe we need to show solidarity - if bad/thoughtless/agressive drivers could all be persuaded to drive as well as the vast majority, we'd all be better off.

+1

I always try to announce "Bike(s) coming" as I approach a horse. In a firm tone of voice, so that the horse can hear it as well as the rider, but not a shout. Horses react well to human voices, that's one thing they're accustomed to.

That's my preferred option, either when riding or cycling. And thank you for being so considerate!

[Tacascarow]

That has little to do with consideration & nearly everything to do with lack of experience.
I've nearly been taken out by caravans, boat trailers, general car trailers, car transporters & horse boxes.
A separate test to tow a trailer over a certain size & weight should be mandatory IMHO.

Yebbut, not bothering to learn how to do it safely is a lack of consideration in itself. Besides some of the conversations I've had indicate that some of them at least don't consider a too close pass as anything that they need to bother about.

I was merely pointing out that horse boxes aren't unique. But you are right not learning how a trailer of any sort behaves is inconsiderate.
In my part of the world caravans & boat trailers are more common than horse boxes & their owners probably don't take them on the road as often as many horse riders.

One advantage horse riders have over cyclists is their sheer presence & the fact many drivers are justly scared to go to close or fast.
More than one driver has been killed because a horse has reared & come down through the windscreen.
I can't remember any incident where a driver has been killed when involved with a cyclist.

[freeflow]

When I started driving a horse box it quickly became apparent to me how bad the general standard of driving was. Horses are very quick with feedback if they can't cope with your driving.

[Flinders]

That has little to do with consideration & nearly everything to do with lack of experience.
I've nearly been taken out by caravans, boat trailers, general car trailers, car transporters & horse boxes.
A separate test to tow a trailer over a certain size & weight should be mandatory IMHO.

Yebbut, not bothering to learn how to do it safely is a lack of consideration in itself. Besides some of the conversations I've had indicate that some of them at least don't consider a too close pass as anything that they need to bother about.

I was merely pointing out that horse boxes aren't unique. But you are right not learning how a trailer of any sort behaves is inconsiderate.
In my part of the world caravans & boat trailers are more common than horse boxes & their owners probably don't take them on the road as often as many horse riders.

One advantage horse riders have over cyclists is their sheer presence & the fact many drivers are justly scared to go to close or fast.
More than one driver has been killed because a horse has reared & come down through the windscreen.
I can't remember any incident where a driver has been killed when involved with a cyclist.

Few drivers are actually as scared as they should be when it comes to going too close. They tend to estimate a horse's width as far less than it is, rather as they sometimes do with bikes.

The usual scenario in a horse/vehicle impact is a dead or injured horse and a damaged vehicle. Riders are usually the next in line, with drivers and passengers only rarely getting injured. Like a cyclist, a horse is actually pretty vulnerable, as although it is big, something like a broken shoulder which wouldn't be fatal to a human is 100% fatal for horses, unfortunately, and despite incredible modern medical advances, even a broken leg can't always be fixed for a horse, and if not, that's a 'fatal' too.