Midchuck your post says more about a fear of horses, perhaps
due to unfamiliarity, than it does about horses.

I'm familiar enough with 'em. I've ridden. But it always felt awfully high off the ground, and the horse has a mind of his own, even if not a very brilliant one.

I'd much rather encounter an equestrian on a shared trail than
an off-lead rottweiler or doberman. At least if the horse freaks
out, the rider is right there and sharing the risk to life and
limb.

Well, Lord, so would I! But encountering neither would be better.

A bit of common sense will ease the passage. Usually that
involves the pedestrian stepping to one side and quietly doing
absolutely nothing.

Why? Why should the horse's rights trump the pedestrian's? (Unless it's designated as a horse trail, which I already conceded was another matter entirely).

Oh, and I'd prefer to step in horse-poop than dog poop.

So would I. But not stepping in any poop at all is more preferable yet.

Peter