# Can I ride a horse with no license? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 1, 2002, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-ride-a-horse-with-no-license/130362 "2002-10-01T04:04:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hayduke\_Lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Hayduke\_Lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hayduke_Lives)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-ride-a-horse-with-no-license/130362/1 "2002-10-01T04:04:46Z")
In certain parts of this state I have seen Amish people riding horses down the road. Are they allowed to do so because it’s legal, or only because their religion says they can ride a horse and not drive a car and the state doesn’t want SCOTUS to rule on it? In other words: - Can anyone ride a horse down the road? \*I’m 17 and do not have a drivers license. Can I legally ride a horse down the road? \*If it’s legal to ride a horse down the road, what if the horse takes a big dump? Do I have a legal obligation to clean it up, or can I leave it for the street sweeper? \*If it is legal to ride a horse on public streets, what about where I park it. Can you legally tie it up to a parking meter while you go inside a store? (assume you put money into the meter). \*If it’s legal to ride a horse on public streets, do stores have to allow you to park it in their parking lot? ---
**Author:** ![donkeyoatey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-ride-a-horse-with-no-license/130362/2 "2002-10-01T04:26:52Z")
No, but you **can** ride a horse with no name if you set it free after nine days.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-ride-a-horse-with-no-license/130362/3 "2002-10-01T07:06:23Z")
Your local police dept. could probably answer these questions. I know that when you rent a horse, no one asks for a horse license. But they might want to see a driver’s license in case you don’t return the animal. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-ride-a-horse-with-no-license/130362/4 "2002-10-01T07:34:39Z")
This site gives a rundown of state laws on [riding horses on roads.](http://www.law.utexas.edu/dawson/roads/roads.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-ride-a-horse-with-no-license/130362/5 "2002-10-01T09:40:57Z")
You don’t need a license, but I’d keep my registration handy in the glove compartment. ---
**Author:** ![Weeks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbce88/32.png) [@Weeks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weeks)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-ride-a-horse-with-no-license/130362/6 "2002-10-01T10:38:26Z")
Good post, David Simmons. Hey Hayduke! Why don’t you have your liscense? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-ride-a-horse-with-no-license/130362/7 "2002-10-01T12:40:42Z")
You don’t need a license to ride a horse (note that the license is a motor vehicle license – no mention of animals). You do, however, need to obey traffic laws. As far as tying up, a parking lot is usually private property and they can choose to have whatever rule they want. On a public street, you could probably tie up the horse, but could get cited for violating any pooper scooper laws (if they exist). ---
**Author:** ![Hayduke\_Lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Hayduke\_Lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hayduke_Lives)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-ride-a-horse-with-no-license/130362/8 "2002-10-01T14:00:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Weeks \* > \*\*Hey Hayduke! Why don’t you have your liscense? \*\* It’s not my idea. The General & The warden won’t let me. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-ride-a-horse-with-no-license/130362/9 "2002-10-01T14:27:11Z")
As some have mentioned, it varies by state. However, where I live, there is absolutely nothing to stop you from riding down the road on a horse _except_ the horse. Drivers who zoom by can really scare horses and you’d find youself in quite a bit of danger as an unexperienced rider. Riding on busy roads is rather dangerous and drivers are generally jerks about it as well. During hunting season there’s also the risk of being shot for sitting on a 1,100 lb “deer” LOL (actually, no laughing matter, I do know some people who’ve had horses shot out from under them in hunting season). BTW, unless I am quite mistaken, the law is more strict about who goes on _highways_ – I am about 99% certain that it would not be legal to ride a horse (or any horse-drawn conveyance) on the highway. Also, in regards to the poop situation – it is biodegradable but neighbors have been known to complain. If you live in a subdivision it probably goes against Association (not city/state/fed) rules.