What does the law say about riding a horse on a public road?

Question:

I just want to ask a few questions.

1. May we ride our horses next to each other on a dirt road that is 5.4 at the narrowest and about 8 meters at the widest if we fall in behind each other when there is a > vehicle close to us and after the car has passed we move back next to each other?

2. Ride in the middle of the dirt road if there is no vehicle on the road (no matter where on the road we are, we are able to clearly see more than 1 kilometre down the road both ways)?

I know that the cars have more rights than us on the road, but we respect the cars and other people who are also using the road. I just know for sure about the rules and law so we can be more respectful of each other.

Answer:

Reg 313(5) is the only provision in the legislation relating to persons riding animals on the road. If you do not cause an obstruction it will be legal to ride a horse in the manner you explained.

Animal on public road

Reg 313.               (1)          Subject to the provisions of subregulation (2), no

person shall leave or allow any bovine animal, horse, ass, mule, sheep, goat, pig or ostrich to be on any section of a public road where that section is fenced or in any other manner closed along both sides, and no person shall leave such animal in a place from where it may stray onto such section of a public road.

(2)          The provisions of subregulation (1) shall not apply—

(a)          to any animal which is being ridden or is being used to draw a

vehicle along a public road; or

(b)          to any animal which is being driven from one place to another in

such manner as not to constitute a source of danger or injury to any person or vehicle using such road.

(3)          In any prosecution for a contravention of subregulation (1), it

shall, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, be presumed that any animal referred to in subregulation (1) was left or allowed to be on the section of the public road or place concerned by the owner of such animal, and a section of a public road shall be regarded as fenced or enclosed along both sides even though there is an opening providing access to such road in the fence or other enclosure.

(4)          No person shall drive any animal referred to in subregulation (1)—

(a)          along a public road during the period from sunset to sunrise, unless

a person carrying a red light visible in clear weather for a distance of at least 150 metres tends such an animal or, in the case of a flock or herd of more than 10 animals, a person tending such animals and carrying a light as aforesaid precedes and another such person carrying a light as aforesaid follows such animals; or

(b)          along a public road during any other period, unless a person

displaying in a conspicuous manner a red cloth, of not less than 300 millimetres by 300 millimetres, tends such animal or, in the case of a flock or herd of more than 10 animals, a person tending such animals and displaying a cloth as aforesaid precedes and another such person displaying a cloth as aforesaid follows such animals.

(5)          A person in charge of an animal on a public road shall tend the

animal in such a manner as not to constitute an obstruction or danger to other traffic.

(6)          A traffic officer may take charge of any animal referred to in

subregulation (1) on a public road or take such steps in respect of the animal as determined by the MEC of the province concerned.

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Alta Swanepoel & Associates

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What does the law say about riding a horse on a public road?