Is It Legal To Ride A Horse On The Road In Michigan?
If you are planning on riding a horse soon, you may be in luck!
While the horse-drawn carriages cause a little traffic, can you get mad that they are in the road?
Let's find out.
Is It Legal To Ride A Horse On The Road In Michigan?
If you are a horse lover, you will love this answer!
YES!
According to the Michigan Vehicle Code, a "vehicle" is
"every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except devices exclusively moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.."
Under MCL 257.604, horses are granted access to all roads! However, you will be subjected to criminal penalties same as a vehicle.
"[a] person riding an animal or driving an animal-drawn vehicle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all the duties, criminal penalties, and civil sanctions applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter [of the Michigan Vehicle Code], except those provisions of this chapter which by their very nature may not have application.”
Riders are required to indicate when they are turning. You also have to obey speed limits and stop signs.
Manistee News Advocate shared that,
"In Michigan, horse-drawn carriages or buggies are considered “implements of husbandry.” This means the carriage is required to bear the widely recognizable orange safety triangles on the rear to indicate they are Slow Moving Vehicles. Buggies will also have reflective tape which will help in visibility. Drivers will indicate turning left or right by using hand signals."
Is It Legal To Ride A Horse On The Sidewalk In Grand Rapids?
In 2013, the outdated law around whether horses could ride on the sidewalk was scratched.
Former City Attorney Catherine Mish sent out a memo to commissioners explaining the situation.
"The riding of horses, ponies or mules within the city of Grand Rapids does not seem to be a frequent problem, and the issue no longer merits inclusion in the city code."
Have fun riding your horses ladies and gents!