just wondering ........

[rouxinol]

I was out today hacking my own horse ( normal snaffle leather bridle and GP saddle) enjoying the winter sunshine when we came across two people hacking their own horses, They were well behaved and causing no problem but they were riding them on a fairly busy B road that connects two bridleways in what I can only describe as a Natural Horsemanship halter - no bit with rope reins attached to the side of the 'halter' and with just A 'Western type ' aztec patterned blanket. How would they stand if they caused an accident or involved in an accident insurance wise ? - as not using recongised equipment ?

This is not pro / anti natural horsemanship just a general enquiry !

 

[zeuscleoharmony]

I wonder too but so long as their riders are deemed to be in control of their horses then should it be a problem? I have seen horses in full regalia who should most definitely not be on a road, even a country lane, they have been totally out of their riders control and very much a danger to all.

 

[dwi]

I looked into this a while ago and my understanding is that the law states your horse has to have a bridle on while on a public road. This can be a bitless bridle but I think you might have trouble persuading a lawyer that a rope halter was a bridle.

 

[rouxinol]

dwi - Yes I'm sure that I have heard this / read this as well but a fair time ago - hence it got me thinking when I came across the two riders this morning !