Oi! Plod!

[EltonFrog]

Is it illegal to use a mobile handheld device or mobile telephone whilst riding a horse on a public highway?

I see a lot that around here, yesterday I cycled past a young woman who was riding a horse and walking another horse along side, on a road, whilst her face was buried in her iPhone?

Me, I think that's pretty dangerous, what say you CC'ers and plods?

 

[Arch]

I don't think it's advisable, but I don't think it's illegal, just as it's not illegal on a bike - and also not advisable.

Technically, perhaps you could be done on some archaic 'not in proper control' law, just as you can be drunk in charge of a bike, or be 'riding furiously' rather than speeding.

 

[Becs]

Not specifically illegal but pretty irresponsible, especially when leading another. I'm not sure whether there's a "failing to be in proper control of a horse" law that covers riding drunk and super fast that may be applied to phones perhaps?

Edit: Arch beat me to it :-)

 

[vernon]

Is it illegal to use a mobile handheld device or mobile telephone whilst riding a horse on a public highway?

I see a lot that around here, yesterday I cycled past a young woman who was riding a horse and walking another horse along side, on a road, whilst her face was buried in her iPhone?

Me, I think that's pretty dangerous, what say you CC'ers and plods?

The horse was on autopilot and its route was being plotted on the iPhone by the rider.

 

[Crankarm]

Did you get her phone number?

 

[EltonFrog]

Did you get her phone number?

No, why?

 

[Crankarm]

Where you see problems some would see opportunities.

 

[EltonFrog]

Where you see problems some would see opportunities.

You didn't see the silly mare, I'd rather get the phone number of the horse.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Hmm...well most horsey types ive come across are sensible humanoids...so this surprises me...if she was riding it I guess she shouldn't be on the iphone....if she was walking I guess that makes here a pedestrian...is it illegal for a ped to use an iphone?

edit...just read post properly..

yeah she was being a silly mare.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

is a horse classed as a vehicle?

 

[Arch]

is a horse classed as a vehicle?

I think it is, in the same way that a bicycle is. IE, some laws apply to all vehicles, some apply only to motor vehicles.

 

[EltonFrog]

So. No one knows!

 

[shouldbeinbed]

I can't for the life of me think why you've not got a sound legal opinion what with the informative and friendly thread title anarl

Horses are the slowest moving of the quoted vehicles and the only ones with self determination and an instinct towards self preservation that may well override an inattentive rider accidentally piloting them onto the fast lane of the M62 at 7 mph whilst deeply engrossed in a tricky level on angry birds. It is also the easiest to communicate with an inattentive pilot and has the quickest brakes if it was plodding slowly towards you on autopilot.

Dunno if its in law or not but if so then it is a definite piece of overkill IMO

 

[EltonFrog]

I can't for the life of me think why you've not got a sound legal opinion what with the informative and friendly thread title anarl

Horses are the slowest moving of the quoted vehicles and the only ones with self determination and an instinct towards self preservation that may well override an inattentive rider accidentally piloting them onto the fast lane of the M62 at 7 mph whilst deeply engrossed in a tricky level on angry birds. Dunno if its in law or not but if so then it is a definite piece of overkill.

Thank you very much for your helpful and informative post, it was just the very type if useful input I was hoping for.

 

[Arch]

I can't for the life of me think why you've not got a sound legal opinion what with the informative and friendly thread title anarl

Horses are the slowest moving of the quoted vehicles and the only ones with self determination and an instinct towards self preservation that may well override an inattentive rider accidentally piloting them onto the fast lane of the M62 at 7 mph whilst deeply engrossed in a tricky level on angry birds. It is also the easiest to communicate with an inattentive pilot and has the quickest brakes if it was plodding slowly towards you on autopilot.

Dunno if its in law or not but if so then it is a definite piece of overkill IMO

The problem is that horses do have self determination, which is heavily influenced by their place in the food chain, between grass and sharp pointy toothed things. This leads to the default action of "Run!"when faced with anything from a plastic bag in a hedge to an oncoming cyclist*. An inattentive rider is more likely to be surprised by their mount's reactions, and unseated.

*Sensible really. If you don't have pointy horns, but are supremely adapted by evolution to run fast, you may as well deploy a 'run first, ask questions later' approach. Or, more normally, 'run first, then forget about it until the next time you see the same thing out of the corner of your eye, then run again'