Do You Know the Rules of the Road
|
|
Generally, I think you should avoid riding along roadsides, if at all possible. I watch several online news feeds for stories about horses. What I've noticed over the years is that by far the most common fatal accidents involving horses are collisions with motor vehicles. Many of these accidents occur between horse-drawn vehicles and cars or trucks. But, riders and horses are killed in these types of accidents too. Close to where I live, a young woman, who was short-listed for the Olympic eventing team, was out hacking on a young leased horse. A truck came towards her at a high rate of speed and hit them. The driver then got out of his truck, and "He yelled at me something like, what were you doing on the road?" He then left, and although she escaped with minor injuries, the horse had to be euthanized on the roadside. After two agonizing hours, the attending vet concluded that not only did the horse have internal injuries, but a broken pelvis.
Both myself and friends have had uncomfortable roadside encounters. One time, I was riding a difficult horse a very short piece from my yard to the trail, when a truck came flying towards us. I waved at the driver to try to slow him down only to have him scream “you shouldn't be on the (insert rude explicative) road anyway” before spinning off in a cloud of dust. No injury was done, but it left me badly shaken. There's a good chance you've had a similar encounter.
Riders and drivers have a responsibility to know the rules of the road. What these drivers obviously didn't know is that the rules of the road in this province required them to “exercise every reasonable precaution to prevent the frightening of the horse... to ensure the safety and protection of any person driving, leading or riding upon the horse or other animal or being in any vehicle drawn by the horse or other animal.”
Of course, lots of drivers don't follow the rules. However, many more are just unaware of traffic laws. After the accident I described above, many local horse owners started an awareness campaign. It fizzled out after a short time, and it's unfortunate that it may take another terrible accident to educate drivers and riders again.
But there are some things we can do to make roadside riding a bit safer. First of all, review the highway traffic laws for your area. Most governments have these posted online, so they're easy to find. These traffic laws will help you learn things like which side of the road you should be riding on, what safety equipment you must have and how you are to interact with other traffic. Then, you need to ride a horse that's not traffic shy, and be very cautious and know most drivers don't understand how horses can react.
Knowing the details of the traffic laws is not part of any driving test that I know of. We tend to only learn the basics for a driving exam. After you get your license, it's unlikely anyone reads the laws for fun. So, reaching out to drivers and educating them can be a bit difficult. But, things like posters that you can easily make and letters to the editor of your local newspapers can help get the word out. You might do a presentation for a service club, or write a short article for a local magazine. Of course, tell your friends. And above all, do all you can to stay visible and in control when riding on roadsides. |
|
|
More News by Winniefield Park
|
|
3P *Starring Ruth* has captured two spots on the leaderboard joining * Queen Of Hearts. Starring Ruth is a 17.1 hand Friesian mare out of the PythonPonyPalaces stable and was foaled September 7, 2023. She not only was #1 ranked ho ...
|
|
DNA testing can tell you a number of things about a horse’s risk of developing a hereditary disease, coat color, genetic markers for speed, temperament and gait and can give some insight into a horse’s breed. In this video, The Cl ...
|
|
Here is a story of how a passion for horses led one woman to a life of secrecy and dishonesty. Over twenty years she built a life of glamor and competitive success. But many people asked how she funded her extravagant lifestyle th ...
|
|
One of the world’s rarest breeds is the Suffolk Punch. Native to Britain, these stocky draft horses once had pride of place in agricultural work, hauling artillery, pulling public transportation vehicles like busses and towing bar ...
|
|
*V For Victory* is entrenched on the leaderboard and still holds the Best Streak with an 18,792 run and a jumpoff record of 29,444 - 19. But two mares have taken over the Top Rank and Highest Jump records. At 16, the 17-hand Crown ...
|
|
Get your daily dose of nature with this 49-minute video of wild horses travelling to a water hole in Sand Wash Basin, a BLM managed area in Colorado. The small herd drinks, grazes and swish's flies in the semi-arid desert environm ...
|
|
Halloween is just around the corner and it's time to consider costumes for you and your four-legged friends. A recent viral trend is dressing your pet as a ghost. Some sheets and paint are the basis of this costume, and you can se ...
|
|
Good riders do what they can to make their horse’s job easier. Especially when jumping, your position can help or hinder your horse as it adjusts its strides and balance between and over obstacles. Here’s a video with good suggest ...
|
|
|