A few rules for sharing the road with horses

Wendy Belzberg and Corky, her Icelandic mount.

A Bedford road sign alerts drivers to an equestrian crossing.

By WENDY BELZBERG 

I am never more guilty of road rage than when I am riding my horse. Last week I spewed expletives at a driver who accelerated toward me as I rode up the road. Delivery trucks speed past; landscaping and garbage trucks barrel by; motorcycle caravans rev their engines; packs of cyclists dressed in neon approach from behind without a warning and whiz past. Drivers who come to a dead halt if they see a deer or a loose dog in the middle of the road often do not even tap their brakes at the sight of a woman astride an 800-pound animal sitting 5 feet off the ground.

Like every horse, my Icelandic mount can find nature’s plot twists spooky and unpredictable. A brisk wind, a sudden noise, a snapped branch or even a loose leaf can seem ominous. Like every horse, he does not come with a factory-installed foot brake. I ask him to stop, but he has been known to ignore me and proceed headlong into traffic. Worse, he might rear up or bolt at the sound of a honking horn or backfiring engine. Once, when a bee landed on his hind section, he bucked and tossed me head-first on the road in the middle of Route 121. 

Bedford is an equestrian-friendly community. A rider on horseback lends the area its charm in the same way as do its stone walls and rock outcroppings. Paddocks filled with horses boost the bucolic vibe and are every realtor’s dream. 

Our roads remain unpaved to prevent horses from slipping and pay homage to our equestrian roots. Those precisely placed, bright yellow horse-crossing signs along Routes 22 and 121 are there because horseback riders cross those busy roads to get from one trailhead to the next. They are not artifacts of the 1800s. 

I want to believe that drivers and cyclists mean well. With spring’s arrival, riders are back out on the roads. So, I offer this crash course on road etiquette:

— When you see a horse and rider on the road — beside you, in front of you or trying to cross over — come to a complete stop. 

— A rider will typically motion to you to advance slowly and with caution. I always use the universal hand motion “slow down” when I hear a speeding car approaching in either direction. Follow our signs. 

— When you are approaching from behind, slow to a crawl, then come to a complete stop. This pause will add no more than three minutes to your trip. If you have children in the car, feel free to lower your windows and let them pat the horse’s velvety nose.

— If you are on a bicycle — especially if you are part of a pack — come to a complete stop.

— Share the road. Horses pulled us for centuries. The least we can do is pull over. 

I hope these instructions serve to remind you of the etiquette of sharing the road with horses in our community. 

Wendy Belzberg is president of the Bedford Riding Lanes Association.