Horses on Road:
Please Use Caution

Horses are approximately the size of a moose in relation to your vehicle. At times the horse may also be as unconcerned about your car as the moose. That means the horse may be more worried about the "killer" chipmunk in the hedgerow as about the two-ton horse-eating conveyance approaching from the rear/front/side.

The rider/driver of the horse/carriage you are drawing near to will do all in his/her ability to prevent said horse/pony/donkey/ equid from becoming your new hood ornament. Sometimes the handler is not able to prevent said equid from overreacting to the "sum of all his fears," and his four little feet may—one at a time or all at once—leave the ground.

In doing so he will need much room around him to allow the rider to regain control before causing great harm to either your "tin Lizzie," your bicycle, your baby carriage, or whatever else you are approaching him with, as well as his own body.

What I’m getting at is that it’s time for many formerly cabin-fevered people to now be out and about enjoying the scenery with their four-hooved friends. We are more and more having to ride on roads with you since there are many more trails being closed off to public use. We do realize little Susie/Johnny may be late for his/her Little League game, but please take those extra few seconds to use great caution when encountering our horses.

Following are some rules to consider when passing a horse on the road. Thanks to the Vermont Horse Council for these ideas.

• Allow plenty of space when passing a horse. Be aware that a horse may be startled by something at the side of the road and may dodge into the path of the oncoming vehicle.

• Slow to a speed of no more than 20 miles per hour when passing a horse. This allows time for all to react if an emergency should occur. If meeting another vehicle at the same time that you are passing a horse on a narrow or busy highway, come to a stop, let the other vehicle pass, and then allow proper space to pass the horse and rider.

• Do NOT blow the car horn when approaching a horse. This may cause the horse to panic, to run away or to throw the rider.

• When approaching a horseback rider who is waving his left (ideally) hand with the palm down, take note. This is the signal adopted by horsemen to notify the highway user that he is approaching a very skittish horse which requires special consideration.

• Bicycles approaching a horse are also asked to use extreme caution. If from the rear, we can’t hear you until you whiz past us, likely sending us into the puckerbrush. If from the front, all we see is a black blob coming at us at a high rate of speed and not having time to figure out there is nothing to be concerned about, hence more puckerbrush.

• Remember, a horse’s reactions may vary from one minute to the next. Just because all was right with my horse on your way into town doesn’t necessarily mean he will be fine on your way home again.

It is the law that horses have the right of way on the highway. We try to do our best to share. Won’t you too, please?

Julie Kinney

Braintree

Mid-state Riding Club

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