Friends in the saddle?

Not everybody likes cyclists.  But then you knew that didn't you? We all have our own favourite anecdote of cycling rage and all know the shocking stories of disgusting intimidation meted out by bus drivers, owners of urban 4x4s and other idiots who seem to get off on making people's lives a misery.
As the number of regular riders increases, frustrations from others will increase whether riders are doing anything wrong or not: simply by virtue of cycling becoming more and more visible.
Riding a bike can put you into difficult positions with other road users and I always feel it's worth changing your behavior in relation to your position within the prevailing hierarchy.
Perhaps rather counter intuitively, this does not mean meekly riding between 2 and 5 cm away from the kerb when on the road or riding like a loon when you're on a shared path with pedestrians, dogs and horses.
I always find that the more assertive 'defensive' riding techniques taught to motorcyclists are much better employed when negotiating traffic and, conversely, slowing down a bit to provide a wide berth on shared paths, is a definite winner.

An equestrian, yesterday

Both instances require riders to take control and be active in their riding style while having a very good all round road sense.
We play these roles out almost every ride we do and there's no doubt that claiming the moral high ground with a cheery 'hello' and 'thanks' works wonders when negotiating the real life hazard perception test that is riding a bike - particularly through the vast menagerie you come across on shared paths.
Negotiating horses has always been a tricky thing for cyclists. I did read once that a horse's brain can not interpret that a cyclist is actually a human which is why they can get so freaked out by a passing rider.
The British Horse Society recently produced a code of conduct for equestrians (whatever they are) and cyclists 
It includes obvious but important advice which, for cyclists, has being polite and considerate at its core.  Good advice I'd say, after all, what could be worse than being kicked off your bike by a horse and then realising it was your own fault!