New running buddy for my friend.

One of my friends from our running group told me of her 10K on Sunday morning. As it was very cold, the ground frozen, she decided to go along the footpaths and bridleways not far from her home. It would make a pleasant change from running on the roads. She wrapped up well with a hat and hoodie to keep her warm. With her headphones in off she went.

Part of the way round she had a feeling she was not alone but with the hoodie obscuring her peripheral vision she could not easily see. Nervously she looked over her shoulder only to see the head of a horse just behind and to her side. She said her first thoughts were of annoyance that a rider would get so close. She slowed down and moved to the edge of the track to allow the rider past but instead the horse slowed down too.

When she stopped and turned round, there was a horse, saddle and reins, but no rider! The horse just stood there looking at her!!!

She then got worried thinking that the rider was probably laying hurt somewhere after falling from the horse. What should she do? Leave the horse and go back the way she came? Try to take the horse with her? Call for help?

As she looked back, in the distance was somebody running rather awkwardly. As she watched she could see that this person was decked out with boots and a riding hat. Still not 100% sure what to do she walked towards the running rider, the horse turned and just followed so she kept walking.

Finally the three met up and after the woman finally caught he breath she thanked her for stopping. Apparently she was using a gate as an aid to get on her horse but hadn't ensured it was locked. The gate moved, touched the horse and he was off.

He didn't go far but must have seen my friend and decided to follow her. The rider ran after them shouting but my friend could not hear her or see the horse so carried on running. Slowly the gap between the horse an rider widened as the poor rider could not keep up.

After helping the rider back onto her horse, they continued their separate ways.

I wonder how far the horse would have followed her if she had not noticed it?

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

The horse followed you at your pace, however, the rider of the horse was not a runner or could only run slowly, the horse would probably have followed you no matter how long the distance you ran without overtaking you, if you had not stopped the distance between you, the horse and it's rider would have got longer, I bet the rider of the horse would be very grateful of you for stopping.

[Fionamags Graduate10]

How funny! Good job she stopped or that 'rider without horse' would have done a first 10k perhaps???

[Hidden in reply to Fionamags]

The way my friend described the poor woman, she was done for and didn't look like she normally did any running, not in riding boots anyway. 😀

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

Brilliant. Now thats a story I don't read every day. Glad it worked out well 🏃‍♀️🐎🐎

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

What a fantastic story 🤣 I hope she got to complete her 10k. Happy running 🤗

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

🤣🤣🏃‍♀️🐎.

[Hidden]

Great story! I've done some horse riding myself, never had that happen to me, but I can imagine the rider must have been frantic! Who knows what could have happened to the horse! Bet she was very glad your friend was there!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

My friend thinks the woman was more grateful that she stopped running so she could be reunited with her horse. She would have never caught up if she had carried on and the horse just followed. I just wonder how far it would have followed her and what she would have done with it if she had made it home without noticing it.

[Granspeed Graduate10]

Horse trainers often encourage a shy horse by walking away from it. The horse follows naturally. It’s a normal behaviour between horses themselves. Perhaps your friend is a natural Horse Whisperer?

[Hidden in reply to Granspeed]

My friend said that it is the closest she has ever been to a horse and hadn't a clue what to do. They are even bigger than she thought when up close and had heard that they can bite and kick. She said it seemed friendly enough but didn't want to take any chances.Her husband said that as her hoodie is a red/orange colour, the horse probably thought she was a giant carrot.

[Granspeed Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

🤣🤣 Clearly she has a special magic!

[Hidden in reply to Granspeed]

I had to laugh, my friend showed me a photo that her Mum sent her after hearing her story. It was of her when she was about two. She had a soft horse on wheels with a handle that toddlers can use to help them walk. The photo is of her pulling it along behind her. The comment her Mum made was "History repeating itself".

🏃‍♀️ 🐎

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Crikey, lucky she realised the horse was there