Why don't people ride horse's on the road?

Answer 1

Unfortunately they do!!!

Answer 2

I used to ride my horses on the road all the time. It was a little used road in an acreage development. If the horse is under control, and trusts their rider, there is no problem. If you have any doubts, don't ride on the road. And for those of you who slow down and crawl, that doesn't help. I'm not saying don't slow down, but if you take forever to get past the horses, in most cases that causes more harm than good.

Furthermore, roads are for public use. People walk on the road, people bike on the road. Horses can use the road as well as anything else. I can totally understand not riding a horse on a highway, or an interstate, but other roads are perfectly fine.

Answer 3

You should try living in Newmarket, here horses have right of way over EVERYTHING! We have a lot of by-laws which state that the horses have the right of way anywhere in town, but that makes sense for a town that is dependent on the racing industry.

They have built walkways around the town to try and keep the horses off the road, and therefore safe from idiiot drivers, but they do have to cross fairly major roads at certain points in the town. Just a few months ago Sir Mark Prescotts Head Lad, Colin Nutter, was seriously injured and the horse he was riding had to be put down after they wre hit by a car whilst crossing the Bury Road. The driver was speeding and not paying attention.

In general horses do use the roads, but are not allowed on dual carriageways or motorways. These days most riders will try to avoid roads as much as possible, but sometimes it is unavoidable.

Drivers really need to remember that horses are not machines and therefore can be startled. You should always pass a horse wide and slow, never beep your horn and never rev your engine.

Answer 4

Some do but really the only people i see on horses out of competitions or lessons are the police so i don't know why people don't ride horses it would be better for the environment maby not the roads though it would probably smell a lot more than it does now if people did start riding horses around the place and a lot more people would be in debt horses cost a lot to buy and keep healthy

Answer 5

People do ride horses on the road, however I would not recommend it unless it is an absolute necessity.

A horse has a mind of it's own. At any moment, for seemingly no reason, it can spook. It can leap sideways, it can runaway, it can suddenly dart into traffic. This is dangerous for the horse, and for the rider. Both can be injured or killed. Pavement is also slippery for a horse, and they can't get the proper traction.

Motorists are another issue. They don't realize that horses can spook so easily. They don't always slow down and give a wide berth of the horse. I always coast my car by the horse. My bf, if he is on his motorcycle, which is very loud, he will turn it off as he goes by the horse.

It is very bad on the horses hooves and legs if they are on pavement for an extended period of time. It is recommended that horses stay at a walk while on pavement. Horses who are on pavement a lot are susceptible to road founder, which is like the disease that eventually killed Barbaro. They also have more impact on their bones and joints, leading to orthapaedic issues.

The shoulder would be the best place if a horse has to be ridden on the road. However, riders need to watch for nails and other debris that could hurt their horses.

Horseshoes are also recommended for riding on pavement if it is for more than a very short distance. This will help protect the horses feet. A farrier can help determine what the best type of shoe and pad to use to reduce the discomfort for the horse.

Answer 6

Because it can be very dangerous. You never know what noises some cars will make at busy intersections and if your horses aren't used to it it can really stress them and they can feel the tension of the rider also. Many drivers often don't slow down enough to pass horses either. My first horse bolted along side a road because a driver skidded to a halt and i was barely in control its easy to cause a huge accident but luckly there was a enough room by the road to stop him in time even though i did jump off start awat and lead him. I know ride my horse to my riding school 2 blocks away which can often distress my horse even though she has a quiet nature but we manage. You just have to be very careful! =]

Answer 7

Usually, at least here in the United States, it is often very dangerous to ride on or near paved roads and highways. Plus, there are some roads, such as interstates and certain state highways, where it is illegal as well as dangerous. Horses can and often do spook at cars and other motorized vehicles, and this can cause deadly accidents-to the drivers, to the riders, and also to the horses themselves. Yes, horses can be trained to accept traffic- police horses usually are- but the average horseperson rarely has the skills or experience to teach a horse to behave or to control a horse in all situations. Another side to this concerns the potential for injuries to the horse from the pounding of its hooves on pavement. Horses can get road founder from being ridden on paved surfaces for long periods of time. This is another version of the same terrible disease that killed Barbaro. Pressure is not the only thing that can cause it- it has MANY causes. Horses definitely do not belong on hard pavement or asphalt- that's why we have bridle paths and trails, and people have riding rings on their farms. One other little note on this subject- I might point out that it is ILLEGAL in most states for drivers to blow their horns at a ridden horse, or one that is pulling a carriage such as the Amish horses do. Horses and their riders are considered to be pedestrians under the laws of most states, and spooking them or stampeding other livestock is a traffic offense that will get you a hefty fine. Horses also have the right of way at all times- drivers MUST slow down and yield to them.

Answer 8

I drive a car and I can ride, perhaps that's why I give way to horses
on the road. Horses can get fractious, all it needs is a little patience.
Most riding schools need to use to road to get to a place for horse and rider to enjoy themselves.
So live and let live. Oh, and by the way. the droppings are good for the roses.

Answer 9

Because MOST drivers are too dense to know how to treat a horse that is being riden on the road. It is just too dangerous, especially here in California. There ARE a few places left, but even those are plagued by crazy people who do unsafe things to the horse & rider that could result in severe injuries & even death. Besides, the road is far too hard of a surface for most horses! It isn't good for their legs & knees!

Answer 10

First of all, riding a horse on pavement unless it has special shoes on is dangerous, because the horse could slip and fall. I live in Texas, and sometimes I see people riding their horses beside the freeway, but that is not very bright, because of all of the trash that people through out of their cars.(Glass bottles etc.)

Answer 11

There are too many drivers who hate to see anything else on the road, so horses and cyclists suffer. Horses bodies are designed to run on grass anyway.