Equestrian road etiquette becomes talk of town after rider thrown from horse

After a rider was thrown from their horse and suffered serious injuries a few weeks ago, Loving Thunder and the village of Corrales are giving some advice on equestrian road courtesy and right-of-way.

Loving Thunder co-owner Mike Raupp says his wife Twuana was the one thrown from her horse Aug. 15, confiming that Twuana suffered serious injuries from the incident.

"A bicyclist went flying past us. I think it was an electric one. All the horses got spooked, but hers got spooked the most. I reached out for her twice to try and grab, but she fell off on the right end of the dirt. The horse fell on the left. He hurt his hip and his head," he said.

His horse got taken down by her horse. He explained her horse was wearing shoes, comparing the effect to wearing ice skates. He added that Twuana will be "laid up" for months because of her injuries.

Last month's incident has Raupp asking people to consider safety when horse riders are nearby.

"I say three things. You see a horse and a rider? First thing, slow down. Get prepared to stop. Second thing, wait for hand movement of the horse rider to tell you to stop, go on, and then proceed with caution," he said seriously.

Mayor James Fahey addressed the issue in his Mayor's Message Aug. 23.

"An incident occurred last Thursday, 8/15/2024, when a bicyclist reportedly spooked a horse as he rode by a group of equestrians. One rider was thrown from her horse and suffered injuries. No fault is being attributed to either party, but this demonstrates why a certain amount of 'etiquette' is needed when we are out an about. Remember, cyclists yield to pedestrians. Pedestrians and cyclists should yield to equestrians.Horses think of themselves as prey and unfamiliar activities can 'spook' them," he wrote.

He also added that questions have come up about who people should yield to.

"It seems like common sense, but according to our police chief, cars yield when pedestrians, equestrians or cyclists are in a crosswalk, and they should be given aminimum of 3 feetwhen on the road. For horses, much more consideration is given because these are big, live animals that can react violently. Slow down when passing and be sure they areaware of your presence," he said.

The Corrales Equestrian Advisory Committee has provided a list of suggestions for courtesy on corrales-nm.org, which prompts those who encounter a horse on the trail to slow down and move to the side of the trail. It also advises talking to the horse and rider to assure the animal that you're not a predator, and also has a reminder that "horses always have the right of way."

"It is not our intention to blame any one group for some wrong, but to make all aware of the need for thoughtfulness and consideration of our neighbors. Treat others as you would like them to treat you," Fahey writes.