Horse manure on the footpath
02-September-2010
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Horse manure on the footpath

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I was reading the gripe about horse manure on the road and I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to bring up something that has been irritating me for the last couple of weeks.  Yes, I’m afraid it’s another horse manure story and this time it’s not on the road.

I travel to and from a nearby village which is about a three mile round trip and I do this around two to three times a week taking my stepdaughter to school.  It’s not that far and as I don’t have car I tend to either cycle or walk.  It’s a pretty busy road so I wasn’t surprised when I saw a horse and rider on the other side of the road, not actually on the road but riding along the footpath.  Probably a very sensible thing to do because there are a few sharp bends and the traffic tends to be steady and fast.

Anyway, a few days later I’m cycling along this path (again, the sensible thing for a cyclist to do as the road is manic) and I turned a corner to run into a whole load of horse manure.  There was piles of the stuff, some quite large and it was generally spread up the hill for about a hundred yards.  I’m sure it didn’t all come from one animal because there was a lot o it.  My pop would have had a field day (literally) because he used to keep a bin full of manure in the garden for the veggie patch. 

Now I know this stuff washes away (eventually) and it’s not the most harmful substance in the world, but it doesn’t half make a mess of things and it doesn’t smell too great either.  “Well why didn’t you avoid it?” I hear you say…  Well I would if I could, but it was more than one small pile and it wasn’t easy to dodge.  As it happens we had to travel on foot for a few days recently (bike had a puncture) and it was quite challenging to keep the little one from stepping in piles of horse manure.  It was starting to get dark around then too which didn’t help matters, plus a couple of rain showers and a hoard of school kids walking that way had spread it around even more.

Horse manure on the footpath

Not suggesting banning horses, fining the riders or forcing them onto the road (definitely not around there anyway!).  But I think in this instance making the effort to pick up your horse manure would be a nice thing to do for the rest of us pedestrians and cyclists who also use the path.  It’s one thing on the road, but on the pavement it’s quite inconvenient.

Perhaps stopping by on the way back from the stables with a shovel and a few bin liners perhaps?

By: Alexander


Other Related Gripes

Cyclists on the footpath
Horse manure, delivered to your doorstep!
Horses have a right to be on the road too!
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Cruel tradition that kills horses
Some horse owners are rude
Reckless drivers keep horses off the road
Parking on the pavement
Get your dog on a lead
Pheasants loose on the road
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Dog owners are irresponsible
In praise of the horse
Horse manure on the road

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@Krupps - "Criminal horses"? I did guffaw at that! Horses obviously know the Law, right?
*alice  30-Aug-2010 20:43

 
Why weren't the police called!

Fouling of of any public footpath or road by an animal is an extreme criminal offense.
Stop and detain those concerned, take details and call police!

In this way everyone can relax without fear of criminal horses and riders!
*Krupps  30-Aug-2010 20:33

 
my priority is always my horses, I never do anything else until ive sorted them out.
*cw  27-Aug-2010 11:19

 
I agree, but I'm sorry, after a 2 or 3 hour hack my priority is my horse. When I have finished seeing to her and her comfort and needs, THEN I will go back to the scene of the crime and clear up ... and by that time, as I said before, there is usually little left to clear up!
*Nikki  26-Aug-2010 20:17

 
It depends how important you view it.To me its very important to find the time to pick it up on the rare occassion it happens.Horseriders get a bad name without even doing anything.I wouldnt want other riders getting grief as a result of my laziness.Its showing consideration for the people who live in and enjoy our village.If just a little bit of this consideration rubs off on at least one resident and makes them more cautious and helpful towards horses and their riders on our roads then its well worth the trouble.
*cw  26-Aug-2010 17:18

 
It is a good point cw, although often by the time you've got back to the stables, sorted the horse out, etc. etc. a couple of hourse have gone by and it's a bit late. You get back to the offending spot and it has been well and truly squished into the pavement by passing bikes or pedestrians.

I agree though, it is the decent thing to do.
*Nikki  23-Aug-2010 19:53

 
I was leading my little girl on her shetland recently and due to several fire engines and police cars racing past to an accident nearby I took her onto the pavement for safety. needless to say the pony decided this was a good place to have a nice big poo soter i'd led them home I nipped back to the spot in my car armed with my poo gloves and a bag and removed it. whilst it is pretty harmless I do think its a bit naughty to let your pony poo on the pavement.i live on a dangerous bend-only made dangerous by the idiots that race round it,so I often ride round it on the pavement for mine and my horses safety and i'll happily challenge anyone who dares question it at the time.i do however stick to the belief that if your horse messes on the pavement you should really nip back in your car/on your bike and pick it up.it'll only get on pedestrians nerves when their kids jump in it and give us horse riders an even worse name than we already have.which we dont deserve at all I must add.
*cw  21-Aug-2010 16:17

 
Ha ha !!

Like your style mate! You are absolutely SO right - if you have enough time on your hands to moan about a bit of harmless horse poo, then you really do need to get a life IMO !
*Nikki  20-Apr-2010 12:36

 
Doesnt look to much of a problem to me, perhaps you should get some shoes or bike tyres that are not magnetically attracted to horse poo. Maybe you should get a hobby or something, that will take your mind off trivial matters :-)
*Rider of the Apocalypse  15-Apr-2010 09:44

 
Bah Humbug, Grassroots!

I shall report you to the RSPCA for Cruelty to Reindeers : (

Can't you just gather the reindeer droppings and put them on your roses? Assuming you have access to your roof area of course!
*Nikki  17-Dec-2009 07:55

 
At this time of year we get reindeer crap on the roof. It's disgusting. I have put up spikes around the chimney but it does no good.
*Grassroots Opinion  16-Dec-2009 20:16

 
Me too G, me too.

Your safety barrier idea is a good one, but would probably be far too expensive to ever be implemented.
*Nikki  16-Dec-2009 20:01


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