The sight of 16 horses and their riders trotting through Cambridge township on Saturday brought back memories for horseman Stewart Dromgool.
Cavalcade organiser Hope Spooner gave her father Stewart Dromgool, the pooper scooper job. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Hope Spooner on Cassidy, her 5-year old crossbred mare, points out the route from the start at Cambridge East Maungakawa Pony Club in Taylor Street. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Daughter Hope Spooner gave him the pooper scooper so the horses she brought together to ride in the Pass Wide and Slow awareness campaign ride did not leave their business behind them.
Dromgool, who was in the Cambridge Pony Club with Mark Todd in the 1970s, recalls clip clopping on their horses along the main street and over the Victoria (High Level) Bridge.
“I’m not sure I’d do that now,” he said as he walked behind scooping up horse poo.
Spooner, who was born and went to school in Cambridge, is dismayed at the speed vehicles pass her when riding out with her children on Peake Road.
“We ride there quite often and we have a lot of cars speeding up behind us. They’re not even looking out for us sometimes… they’re on their phones…”
Sixteen riders and their supporters set out from Cambridge East Maungakawa Pony Club in Taylor Street to show their support for Pass Wide and Slow. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Riders across New Zealand are petitioning the government to have horse riders’ vulnerability recognised in land transport legislation.
Pedestrians and cyclists are vulnerable road users – and able to use footpaths and cycleways, but horses and riders, who cannot use them – are not “vulnerable users”.
“We want to create awareness so when authorities are planning… horses are actually brought into the planning because at the moment there’s no consideration for horses and riders,” said Spooner.
The trickiest bit was the busy roundabout outside the Town Clock but none of the horses got spooked as the traffic showed respect for the campaign. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
In Cambridge there are no bridle paths on places like the Te Awa Cycleway which is frustrating as it would have been a nice place for horse and riders to go, she said.
“People often say to me ‘you shouldn’t be riding on the road’. Roads are for cars is the mentality of kiwis. But that’s not so, particularly here in Cambridge.
The 4km ride on Saturday started at Cambridge East Maungakawa Pony Club on Taylor Street, down the middle part of Victoria Street and into town via Lake Street. Negotiating Queen Street and the busy roundabout in front of the Town Clock could have been nasty but traffic was respectful, said Spooner.
The cavalcade took in Alpha, Dick and Bryce streets before riding along Hamilton Road towards Vogel Street and back to the pony club.
Pass wide and slow is the behaviour the petition also wants all drivers to follow when they see a horse and rider on the road.
Dexter Carney on his pony Merrylegs and led by mother Vicki Maddever, waves out to acknowledge the traffic as the horse cavalcade negotiates the busy roundabout in front of the Town Clock. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Hope Spooner leads the horse cavalcade on Cassidy, her 5-year old crossbred mare, out of Dick Street into Queen Street. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Vicki Maddever with her son Dexter Carney who is riding his pony Merrylegs. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Riding along Hamilton Road alongside the new cycleway which is off bounds for horses is Hope Spooner, front left, on Cassidy, her 5-year old crossbred mare. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Riding along Bryce Street alongside the new cycleway which is off bounds for horses is Hope Spooner, front left, on Cassidy, her 5-year old crossbred mare. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
