Is it illegal to go horseback riding on roads, residential streets, or neighborhoods?

Question

I live in Madison County, Alabama. Someone mentioned it is illegal to ride through public roads or neighborhoods or even on the side of the road. Is this true? Ive searched the web and have not found anything about the subject. Please only answer if you have a viable source for your answer! THANKS!!!!!!!! :D

Answer 1

I would think you have to check with Madison County Alabama.

Answer 2

Where I live in South Dakota, I can ride anywhere. Even in town.  When I was a kid in Las Vegas I rode my horse over to a friend's house and the dog catcher told me he could impound my horse. I told him he could if he could catch me and took off. It all depends on the zoning and ordinances where you live. You would have to call the City Hall or the Court House and ask them if they have any ordinances against riding anywhere in your county. There is a federal law called the Right to Ride. You might look that up and see if it covers anything that would prohibit a local government from stopping you.

Answer 3

Usually its not if youre only walking or trotting. check the countys rules though. where i live in the USA, ive seen people go on the sides of non-busy roads.

Answer 4

I'm really not so sure, because I live in new jersey by all the horse farms, and the laws might be totally different, but out here you just need permission by the residents and on the roads yeah its llegal for us, but idk for you....

Answer 5

check with your local council

Answer 6

Umm......I dont think so I ride on the streets every time I ride and no one has ever said anything to me about it. Which I live in KY and you are all the time seeing people riding down the highway. I hope this helps you out

Answer 7

It depends on whether the easement you are using is restricted to horses. Some restrict it to only pedestrian passing and others allow passage of all-terrain vehicles, horses etc. So really it depends where you are riding. For horses on public roads there is a "minimum" speed you must travel to be on that road, check to make sure you are not in violation of a minimum speed ordinance as well. No this doesn't mean to run flat out on pavement as this would be dangerous to your horse but you would want to avoid areas that have minimum speed postings.

Answer 8

I live in Michigan and I ride wherever I want too. But I would check your local council or sherrif department as they may know something about it or show you where you can find information.

Answer 9

I have ridden just about every road in my county as well as many roads in N. America including some in Alabama.  I have never heard of such a thing as it being illegal to ride on a public road with a horse.  There may be a bylaw in some little towns or cities that the horse p**p is an issue.  You would have to get in touch with the Madison County roads people to see if there has been a by law passed.  Most N. American towns and counties have an old grand father clause that give horses the right of way in any given circumstance.  Best to check with the authorites then you will know for sure.

Answer 10

Ok picture this...Getting pulled over by the police LOL I have never heard of anything like that...Now i imagine the freeway would be off limits because you horse can not keep up with traffic.

Answer 11

Well I think you have to get a permit to ride on the streets.At least in my city you have to.Check at the City hall or the Counsil  or something.

Answer 12

I have put many a mile on the side of the road and never had a problem until a cop saw me riding in the ditch after dark. He told me I didn't have lights on my horse and I needed to get home.

When I was young (12 or so), I was riding next to the fence- line on the road-side (not the field side) of a toll road and a Trooper told me to get out and not to ride there again. (With his loud speaker).

Answer 13

I would check with a local cop or at the court house I know I am in the North East Florida and you are aloud to ride on the roads but you can get a ticket if your horse poops on the side walk or street so they recommend riding in the grass that is next to the sidewalk/road and the like it if the horse poops there cause its free fertilizer... lol a cop told me this too....