Equestrian use of roadways

Equestrian use of roadways was routine historically, and continues to be routine in many parts of the world today. It is subject to a wide variety of regulatory, policy, management, and technical issues.

Before the popularity of automobiles increased, primarily in the United States of America, seeing someone riding in a horse-drawn buggy, or atop a horse on the roadway was fairly common. It was, in fact the primary form of transportation until automobiles took over in the early nineteen hundreds (Mid-America Arts Alliance, 2007). Horses were the fastest way to get from point a to point b. For centuries upon centuries, horse and man went hand in hand when it came to the major form of transportation. As advancements in transportation and developments began, the need to use horse-driven vehicles for the primary form of transportation began to decrease. However, there are still people in this day and age that utilize horses in this fashion. Even now, when cars are such an important part of many people’s everyday lives, horses are still utilized by some on a day-to-day basis. In some states, such as Pennsylvania and Ohio, where certain sects reside, such as the Amish, seeing equestrians on the roadway is a regular occurrence. As well as a way of life, some people still use the roadway to leisurely ride horses and enjoy their love for the equestrian life-style. Although you are more likely to see a vehicle than you are a horse-drawn carriage or someone cantering on the side of the road, horses and carriages alike are still allowed on roadways.

The roadways in the United States of America are to be shared with others- this includes cyclists and equestrians. An equestrian is a rider or performer on horseback, relating primarily to horse riding. According to the State of both Ohio and Pennsylvania, in which a section of each state has an Amish or Mennonite sect, approximately sixty major crashes involving horses and buggies occur yearly, over the course of a decade (Kelley, 2013). This means that over the course of ten years, approximately six hundred accidents occur that involves horses. These accidents are more common in places such as Ohio and Pennsylvania because of the Amish culture. There are some safety precautions, however, you can make in order to attempt to prevent these types of accidents from occurring. Displaying some form of a fluorescent light or reflective clothing can help other motorists on the road see you more easily (if you are a horseback rider). Riding a horse is best done during daylight and in fair weather. Avoiding riding a horse on roadways in icy, snowy or foggy conditions can decrease the chances of an accident. If your horse is unfamiliar with riding on roads, avoiding roads all together is a safe bet. Horses can be spooked fairly easily, and to minimize your horse becoming panicked, avoiding a busy roadway is a good safety precaution to take. However, if it is necessary to ride on the roadway or cross a roadway, asking someone to accompany you that may be more experienced can be helpful. Riding single file, as well as crossing major roadways in a group increases your visibility for oncoming motorists. Although horses are rather large animals, from a far distance it is easier to see a number of horses rather than just one. For motorists, to increase an equestrians’ safety on the road, be prepared to stop. It is important to not sound your horn or rev your engine while you are near or passing a horse. Although they may be slow moving, patience is important to make sure both the rider and the horse remain safe. Make sure to pass someone who is riding a horse widely (Department for Transport, 2013). For experienced riders, it is also important to have your horse walk, rather than go in a faster gate on roadways that are hard, such as asphalt. Faster gates lead to a higher likelihood of your horse falling with you on it due to the hardness of the surface (The American Quarter Horse Journal, 2017).

...
Wikipedia