The friend slows his horse to a "meaning walk". What does this action signal?

A time to talk

When a friend calls to me from the road

And slows his horse to meaning walk,

I don't stand still and look around

On all the hills I haven't hoed,

And shout from where I am,"what is it?"

No,not as there is time to talk.

I thrust my hoe up in the mellow ground,

Blade-end up and five feet tall,

And plod:I go up to the stone wall

For a friendly visit.