Laughable Old Horse Laws

Against the law to ride an ugly horse? No horse trading after the sun goes down? Illegal to open an umbrella in front of a horse? Horses prohibited from attending church services?

Banned from riding a horse into a saloon or night club? Can't ride a horse after dark unless it wears a red tail light?

These seem ridiculous! But, they WERE (and some still are) TRUE! Take a gander through the rest of the horse laws we have found to be true throughout the United States! Read on....

• The quiet little community of Wilbur, Washington, prohibits their residents to ride "an ugly horse in any public place". The penalty of violating this old law? Merely a fine of $300 and a possible six month jail sentence.
  
• Any horse ridden within the city limits of Gooches, South Carolina, must always wear a pair of pants.
  
• The city of Charleston, South Carolina deemed it necessary to require all horses that are used to pull carriages must be attired in a clean pair of diapers!
  
• Berea, Kentucky, retains an old law which declares that any horse out after dark must have a red tail light. This legislation dates back to a period of history when automobiles were just being introduced to the general public!
  
• In effect in the town of Willimantic, Connecticut: "A bright glowing red" light must be hung on the horse's tail "by some secured method".
  
• It's against the law in Hatfield, Arkansas, to keep your horse overnight in any garage within the limites of the community.
  
• Boston, Massachussets has an unusual law regarding the comfort of horses. Every hotel is still required to provide accomodations for a guest's horse. This is no longer enforced, but still exists!
  
• You can't stable a horse in a one room apartment anywhere in the state of Iowa - If you are renting the place and also live there with a horse.... (huh???)
  
• Nebraska prohibits the boarding of a horse in any one room apartment, no matter how large the rest of the apartment might be! Doing so could bring the renter a stiff $500 fine.
  
• The city of Omaha, Nebraska, retains an old law which requires a hitching post must be found in the front yard of every house!
  
• Minneapolis, Minnesota, specifically outlaws their citizenry from living in a house with a horse! (that explains the state of Iowa!)
  
• Burns, Oregon, prohibits anyone from riding a horse into a saloon or club of any type which serves liquor... BUT, there is an exception! You may do it if you have first acquired a special permit from the city council! (politics was at work back then too!)
  
• If you happen to be in Apache, Oklahoma, you are allowed to ride your steed into a local nightery, but only after paying extra admission or whatever the regular cover charge is required for other customers!
  
• You can't take your horse hunting or fishing with you in Franklin Springs, Georgia!
  
• Nor can you take a mule or a horse when you go duck hunting anywhere in Kansas!
  
• Knoxville, Tennessee still has an old piece of legistlation which bans people from fishing while on horseback - and to top it off, you are prohibited from using a lasso to catch fish! That's a Fact!
  
• Lake Delton, Wisconsin, declares that no one may shoot rabbits while on horseback.... The penalty for doing so is one strong dose of Castor Oil!
  
• Be extremely careful about asking a horse how much it would charge for a ride! As ridiculous as this might sound, Colora, Maryland, has an old law which specifically outlaws people from talking to horses!
  
• Franklin, Kentucky, won't allow anyone to trade a horse after dark!
  
• Alabama bans citizens from "trading horses after the sun goes down"
  
• You cannot be seen wearing any hat which might scare a horse in Boss, Missouri!
  
• Better not ride a horse while unshaven or wearing a mask in Stevensville, Michigan... Ya might scare the horse!
  
• You can't point your finger at a horse under any circumstances, or make fun of one within the limits of South Hero, Vermont.... The old law reads "Anyone who shall point a finger at and or ridicule a horse" will be fined a minimum of $50 and get 30 days in jail!
  
• Lamont, Washington, has a law to beware of if you feel a cold coming on... Stay away from horses. It's illegal to blow one's nose in the presence of a horse. Such an act might frighten the horse!
  
• You can't kick a horse anywhere in the state of Arizone or you could be arrested!
  
• New York City has an old law on the books that prohibits any person from opening an umbrella in front of a horse!
  
• If your a dentist in Port Gibson, Mississippi, then beware of working on any horse teeth... It's a violation of the law to do such work, if it is undertaken as an attempt to conceal the animal's age.... This holds true for South Carolina too!
  
• It is strictly prohibited to take your horse swimming in Chesapeake Bay!
  
• Charlotte, North Carolina bans people from giving their horses a bath on any public thoroughfare, or on the street in front of a house, even if you happen to own the houe!
  
• Brooklyn, New York, retains a law which bans horses from either being bathed in a household tub and from sleeping in you tub.
  
• No horse is ever allowed to be seen wearing a cow bell in Tahoe City, California... An ordinance bans such contraptions on the neck or tail of a horse!
  
• Paluxy, Texas, has a law that requires all horses found on the city streets must be wearing a cow bell!
  
• According to a law in Salt Lake City, Utah, no horse can be allowed to drink from a public fountain.
  
• Shelby, North Carolina has a ban on giving a horse chewing tobacco, or even a dip of snuff!
  
• Montauk, Missouri, won't allow riders to eat garlic four hours prior to mounting their horse, nor can you give any garlic to your horse under any circumstances!
  
• Must not have been any cowgirls in Columbia, South Carolina! Law strictly prohibits any female from mounting a horse in public!
  
• In Lamont, Idaho, it's against the law for a woman to kiss a man while she's astride a horse!
  
• In Duluth, Minnesota, you aren't ever allowed to leave your horse in a bakery or a baked good store located in the downtown area!
  
• River Edge, New Jersey says no horse can be outside after the hour of 10 PM...
  
• In Pennsylvania, your horse cannot be seen in public after midnight! Same holds true for Moscow, Idaho!

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