Originally Posted by
slowhike
If the weather's not to bad there may be horseback riders as well as the ponies.
Here is a helpful bit of advice I was told years ago & try to share w/ others.
Horses in general tend to be easily spooked by things they aren't sure of, including hikers, especially w/ those things on their backs (backpacks:)).
If you meet Horseback riders on the trails shared by both hikers & horses, it is best to steep off trail well before the horse riders get to you.
Step off on the low side of the trail. This makes you seam smaller & a little less treating as apposed to being "Up above" the horse.
Talking to the horse & rider as they approach may help the horse accept you as a non-thread too.