Kill your speed. Not my steed
Thursday, July 19, 2012 by: SooToday.com Staff
SooToday.com received the following note today from faithful reader Brit Guindon over concerns regarding horse and rider safety in and around Sault Ste. Marie.
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Myself and many of the horse community here in the Sault have a common issue of motorists not respecting a horse and rider on the road.
They are supposed to slow down and go around us like they would for a cyclist.
Instead, most are speeding past us, honking horns at us, and every now and then trying to run us off the road.
It is unsafe to do that and they are actually risking injuring or killing not only the horse, but the rider as well.
A horse is considered to be a vehicle and therefore permitted to be ridden on the road, horse-riders are subject to the same penalties for road traffic offenses as other drivers.
"Approaching ridden or driven horses, etc. 167. Every person having the control or charge of a motor vehicle or motor assisted bicycle on a highway, when approaching a horse or other animal that is drawing a vehicle or being driven, led or ridden, shall operate, manage and control the motor vehicle or motor assisted bicycle so as to exercise every reasonable precaution to prevent the frightening of the horse or other animal and 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. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 167"
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milldog 7/19/2012 1:08:49 PM Reportyou tell me what part of my statement doesn't make sense....and what part of your's does...and I will personally remove it...and I'll grow up and possibly look into this driving school thing you speak of....maybe you should have finished that last year of high school eh?
Chardonnay 7/19/2012 1:10:40 PM ReportThank you Sootoday. This reminder was truly needed.
jray 7/19/2012 1:14:14 PM Reporta horse is a vehicle and shares the road with other forms of transpotation. however, this does not mean they own the road, if you want the same rights buy a permit to ride on the road just like a car owner does. do you have insurance for your vehicle? are you wearing a swearbelt? a helmet? these are some of the things vehicle owners must have why not you?
Sam C 7/19/2012 1:15:59 PM Reportmilldog... you're way off base! Horses may be ridden on roadways, especially in "rural" areas -- ie: Strathclair Farm.
Some choose to ride a bicycle, others choose to ride a horse.
The roadways belong to EVERYONE: motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and equestrians. We must ALL share the road.
FYI -- Sec 167 also prohibits motorists from blowing their horns at horses & riders, or horse-drive wagons.
A.E.D. 7/19/2012 1:28:42 PM ReportDid you also no Brit. that if you want to ride on the city streets or the back roads of Desbrats you need to carry liability insurance,because if your horse spooks and jumps into a car or truck and they get injured you stand to be sued,so it works both ways.Call the insurance company they will sell you liability so you can ride your x race horse with the traffic. ITS not manditory but if your horse kills someone your going to have to pay big time.Why do u think there no more horses in our citys parades any more,its because the city wants you to carry liability in case your horse spooks into the crowd and kills someone.I hope this clears up your conception of why there are few horses on are roads these days.AND THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FULL BOMB PROOF HORSE,thats the facts.So when ppl. do see a horse on the roads most dont no what to do,slow down,speed up,stop,honk,the drivers exam doesnt tell drivers what to do in this situation,so i would recommend to stay on your back roads.And if you go on the Trans.Canada highway you must have a slow moving triangle on the back of your cart and also pick your horse waste up too it is manditory.
A.E.D. 7/19/2012 1:32:59 PM ReportDid you also no Brit. that if you want to ride on the city streets or the back roads of Desbrats you need to carry liability insurance,because if your horse spooks and jumps into a car or truck and they get injured you stand to be sued,so it works both ways.Call the insurance company they will sell you liability so you can ride your x race horse with the traffic. ITS not manditory but if your horse kills someone your going to have to pay big time.Why do u think there no more horses in our citys parades any more,its because the city wants you to carry liability in case your horse spooks into the crowd and kills someone.I hope this clears up your conception of why there are few horses on are roads these days.AND THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FULL BOMB PROOF HORSE,thats the facts.So when ppl. do see a horse on the roads most dont no what to do,slow down,speed up,stop,honk,the drivers exam doesnt tell drivers what to do in this situation,so i would recommend to stay on your back roads.And if you go on the Trans.Canada highway you must have a slow moving triangle on the back of your cart and also pick your horse waste up too it is manditory.
hitch 7/19/2012 1:45:28 PM ReportI think whoever honks at a horse should be fined for sure! It is idiotic as not fair to the horse and possibly quite dangerous for the person(s) with the horse! Just take down the plate number and report them.
Cashmier 7/19/2012 1:56:32 PM Reportjray - most horse riders don't believe they "own the road" and will do their best to stay on the shoulder or as close to it as possible. Traction is generally better off of pavement and you never want to be too far away from your escape route. If you see a rider who is not moving their horse to the side of the road, this is much more likely due to a hazard - i.e. unstable shoulder, debris that would be dangerous to the horse, etc. Give them a moment to find a spot where it is safe to move over. Do you really want to be responsible for spooking a horse and possibly severely injuring a horse and rider? Use some common sense and be considerate!
AED - I'm sure the primary reason you don't see many people riding their horses on the roads is because of the hazard the drivers pose these days. In addition, most horse people are fully aware of the fact that no horse is bomb proof.
JediMindTrick 7/19/2012 2:24:51 PM ReportI am very willing to share the road with a horse. I, personally, think its a fantastic way to travel and wish I could afford to train, feed, and keep one for myself. However, I do agree completely that the rider should have some form of liability (mandatory safety wear ie. vest, reflectors, etc. and a form of insurance in case the horse were to do something unpredictable).
lindyjane07 7/19/2012 2:29:41 PM Report In England the horse gets the right of way (horses were there before auto vehicles)
When I see a horse and carriage on the highway if it is safe I put my 4way flashers on and drive over and slow down
I see huge transports not giving any room at all to the horse and carriage and still maintaining speeds of 120 ks
Stupid
A.E.D. 7/19/2012 2:34:25 PM ReportThe picture shows a rider on the wrong side of the road.And casmirror i noticed you had no comment on horses having insurance riding on the roads,"LEGAL" boarding facilities must carry Liability insurance for thur property, and if they dont they could be sued for everything they own if someone is injured on thur property,so i would suggest to purchace liability to any horse person thinking of riding on the public streets.
lavendalilly 7/19/2012 2:47:53 PM ReportOMG People!!!! Are you serious!!
It is just an article in the local news to ask motorists to have more respect. End of story. No reason to get all defensive and political!!! Holy Moly!!! Thrive on getting your backs up much or what??
Pay more attention to people whether they are people on horses, bikes, whatever it may be and that is that. Grow up!!!!!!!
frssm 7/19/2012 2:50:56 PM ReportI find it funny that my neighbour with a miniature poodle stoops to scoop the poop but the horse riders don’t have to pick up the horses poop that is bigger than the miniature poodle
steelworker 7/19/2012 4:48:40 PM ReportWhen a horse craps in front of my house I run out and scoop it up. Free fertilizer for the flower beds and it's poppin' fresh.
horselover2 7/19/2012 5:03:59 PM ReportReally People!! The road belongs to everyone,, and common sense vehicle drivers,, DO NOT honk your horn,, horses are animals, they startle and jump if caught off guard.. no horse is bomb proof,, how would you feel if you honked, the horse spooked, the rider broke their neck falling off,, common sense... be respectful of others on the roads!!
SherK 7/19/2012 5:40:42 PM ReportThis proves it!!There is no more common sense in this world!!Why would you want to hurt someone or something just to prove you're so tough!!Brush up on the rules of the road is all I have to say. There is no reason anyone should be afraid to use the road, walker, biker or horse back rider. The lane belongs to who is using it first!!!!
Copper Lining 7/19/2012 8:21:33 PM ReportFYI, I have spoken with officers about the issue of horses and poop on the roadside. Yes, riders do have to 'scoop the poop.' and are subject to the same fines as dog owners. Because of issues remounting in most locations during a ride, it can be left for a short period, although the rider is expected within a reasonable amount of time to return and remove the poop. Bystanders can and have the right to report a rider that has left behind poop. But you will have to be able to identify the offending person and their horse.
Sam C 7/19/2012 8:29:07 PM Reportsteelworker... right on! And to think that people pay cash money for bags full of manure.
Sam C 7/19/2012 8:31:42 PM ReportA.E.D... look at that pic more closely -- the picture is British.
cashcab 7/19/2012 8:41:18 PM Report I have never read so much horse shit about horse shit in my life.
~J.AcReS~ 7/19/2012 10:19:28 PM ReportWe are talking about drivers/motorists who yells and swears at us for just riding on the road! And yes if the horse spooks, the rider, the horse and even the motorist can get killed! But most of it is the motorists fault coz they never slow down passing the horse at all! My horse and i almost fell into a ravine because a irresponsible pick up truck towing a trailer just smoked pass us. Not even slowed down a bit. Horses no matter how well trained can spook at anything....anything at all. A canadian hunter jumper olympian lost her very expensive horse just because the truck did not slow down while passing her. That horse would've brought canada fame. But she's gone....and the truck driver was imprisoned because of this. Just saying we dont need a death of a rider to happen before we become aware.
~J.AcReS~ 7/19/2012 10:21:03 PM ReportHorse poop can be dealt with some other time coz it won't kill anyone. A little germs is good once in a while. LOL
SherK 7/19/2012 11:09:09 PM ReportThis story is not about poop people!!!!!It's about respecting the value of a human(and animals)life!!!!!!!!!!!
Snowdon 7/20/2012 12:25:51 AM ReportCan we get a follow-up article to explain to everyone what the heck the comments by A.E.D. even mean? Wait a week though, my brain needs at least that long to recover.
UrsaMajor 7/20/2012 2:48:31 AM ReportI pray for a world without loud, putrid cars. Motorists are the most distusting people. Right up there with pedophiles and rapists.
milldog 7/20/2012 7:42:37 AM ReportThanks for the tip of honking the horn while passing a horse...worked like a charm...
hitch 7/20/2012 8:27:39 AM ReportLOL good one!
thumbs4208 7/20/2012 8:39:04 AM Reportlavendalilly thanks for saying that - focus people - seriously - slow down - drive with care - put down the timmies and stop texting (5 people on the way soccer - a 5 min drive) - it's driving not leasure kill time, the soo has to wake up and grow up when it comes to driving!
SarahMac 7/20/2012 9:05:41 AM ReportEvery person in charge of a vehicle or on horseback on a highway who is overtaken by a vehicle or equestrian travelling at a greater speed shall turn out to the right and allow the overtaking vehicle or equestrian to pass. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 148 (2).
milldog 7/20/2012 9:22:35 AM ReportEvery person, excluding mennonite communities, shall not ride their domesticated steed, mare stalion or pony on public roads because there is no need for it. It's 2012..keep it in the field...R.S.O. 2012.r.j3. c. 179-b
SipKing 7/20/2012 9:31:07 AM ReportHorses are animals, do they really belong on Highway 17? The days of Gunsmoke and Bonanza are over, Just think of the torment you are putting on that horse riding on a busy highway. Sure your attitude is "Look at me everyone driving by I am riding my horse" Last week I saw a young lady riding her horse just past the trading post, no helmet two feet from the side of the highway, real smart move, any reason she could not of taken her horse for a ride in the field or back trails, snowmachines do it?
~J.AcReS~ 7/20/2012 11:52:49 AM ReportHorses are animals yes, and they too have the right to share the road. And to whoever said that they should stay in the field should think too that if u wanna speed, keep it in the racetracks. Its in the ontario traffic act people. Grow up! Ur arguing like little kids in here! I guess people wont start realizing what they're doing until someone gets killed.
~J.AcReS~ 7/20/2012 11:59:11 AM ReportWith the prices of gas. Pollution that the vehicles make is destroying the environment. It is nice to use a horse or a bicycle or even walk once in a while. I love riding my horse to the restaurant every summer....that is 1 one of the advantage we have out here in the country coz no one harrasses us to keep our horses in the fields. It infact draws attention to the tourists. Which in return helps the local economy!
Guitar God!!! 7/21/2012 10:59:02 PM Reportjray,
You're an idiot; A complete moron.
You shouldn't have to get insurance for your horse, just as you don't need insurance to walk your dog... Do you really require a helmet to operate your car? Dumbass....
It's not like they're strolling along great northern road... They're on the non-busy streets like old goulais bay road, old garden river road, 4th line, airport road... If you work at the airport, just leave your house 10 minutes early so that you're not late for work, how hard is that? Nobody else works in those areas or has any obligations at all in those areas..
If I ever witnessed disrespect towards horses, or bikes, i'd chase you down in my car, drag you out of your vehicle and just start beating on you.. Then i'd demolish your vehicle, make sure you're unconcious and no witnesses are around......
You are one of many that are responsible for all the violence in the world...
SmAsHed 7/22/2012 8:36:48 PM ReportSweet baby Jesus...what is this city turning into??? I can NOT fathom why this article has turned so many people into a bunch of raving lunatics. Slowing down and going around a horse and rider should be common sense. It's not a hard concept to understand.
Between this and the "haters gonna hate" t-shirt debacle, it's pretty easy to tell who lives in the Soo bubble and needs to go out and get some real life experience...
~J.AcReS~ 7/23/2012 12:03:05 AM ReportVery well said SMASHED and GUITAR GOD! :)
Note: Comments that appear on the site are not the opinion of SooToday.com. Keep discussions civil and on topic. Refrain from obscenity and don't post anything that your grandmother would be ashamed to read. Those who do not abide by these guidelines will have their membership revoked without notice. If you see an abusive post, please click the link beside the post to report it.
