Drive with care around horsesPeople riding on horses or horse-drawn vehicles have the right to share our roads. Show They have the same rights and responsibilities as other drivers, motorcycle riders and bicycle riders. They follow the same road rules, but also have some special rules. Horse riders can ride on any road, unless a sign says they must not. They can ride 2 abreast (side by side) as long as they’re within 1.5m of each other. More than 2 horse riders can ride side by side, but only if 1 is overtaking the others or they are droving stock. Horses can be unpredictableIf you’re passing a horse, whether it’s being ridden or led, or is pulling a vehicle, you should:
Across Australia, horses have the same rights as any motor vehicle. Classification of a rider includes any person who rides a motor bike, bike, animal or animal-drawn vehicle. Drivers may think needing to know the rules about sharing roads with horses is outdated, but the NSW Government disagrees. In fact, lack of education in this space – and 55 crashes involving a riderless horse struck by a motor vehicle resulting in 63 casualties between 2011–2021 – has been the impetus and focus of a late-2022 awareness campaign run by Transport for NSW. According to the NSW Road Rules, horse riders cannot travel on the road more than two abreast and must be within 1.5 metres of each other. Horses and riders are permitted to travel on footpaths and nature strips unless specifically prohibited and provided they give way to pedestrians at all times. A person also must not lead an animal while driving a motor vehicle, or being a passenger in a motor vehicle or riding a bicycle. Safety trips for drivers
When it comes to rules for motorists, there are no specific rules in New South Wales. It is interesting to note, however, that in Queensland the equivalent to our NSW Road Rules specifically lists failing to give way to a “restive horse” as an offence. Under their rule, a motorist is obliged to pull over to the left side of the road and turn the vehicle’s engine off if signalled by a rider (usually by raising a hand and pointing at the horse) until the horse(s) have calmed down or have travelled far enough away not to be aggravated. You don’t want to see an aggravated horse, it’s the stuff night-mares are made of. Safety tips for horse riders
It’s worth noting that horse riders are subject to the road rules in all states, they don’t rein supreme. This means riders must be below the 0.05 blood-alcohol limit while on horseback and abide by the speed limit. It’s also a neigh to use a mobile phone whilst riding, so no horsing around! Have you had any experience with horses on the road? Let us know on Facebook. The information contained on this webpage is provided for general information purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal advice or as a substitute for legal advice. Whilst we endeavour to ensure the information is complete and up to date, we make no warranties as to the accuracy or any other aspect of the information and accept no responsibility for any loss or damage you may suffer as a result or your reliance on any part of it. Links to other websites are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute endorsement of material on those sites, or any associated organisation, product or service. Is it legal to ride a horse on the road in USA?In most states, horse riders and handlers of horse-drawn vehicles can use the roads and must adhere to all local traffic laws. The animal's owner should still exercise caution and try to keep the road open for easy traffic flow.
Can you ride a horse in the city?Generally, most communities forbid horseback riding in the city limits because of the inherent dangers of mixing horses and vehicles. However, some cities allow for horseback riding. To find out if your city permits horseback riding, call, or visit their official website. That's what I did.
Can you legally ride a horse on the street UK?You MUST NOT take a horse onto a footpath or pavement, and you should not take a horse onto a cycle track. Use a bridleway where possible. Equestrian crossings may be provided for horse riders to cross the road and you should use these where available (see Rule 27).
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