GLOCESTER – Members of the Glocester Town Council say they may have to rein in local horse riders after several recent incidents of confrontations between homeowners and riders that led to calls to police and complaints to board members.
In a letter to the Town Council Allen and Lorie Rogler, who live at 30 Douglas Hook Road in Chepachet, described a series of incidents involving riders on horseback who, they claimed, harassed them, leaving piles of manure in driveways and on lawns. When asked to clean it up, Rogler said the riders ignored them.
“When asked to clean it up,” they wrote in the letter. “The rider said, ‘yeah sure’ and never did. His attitude was such that he is entitled to not have to pick up after his own animals. My neighbor had to clean up the waste. Another neighbor had to clean it up in front of his vegetable stand; it is terribly unsanitary and a nuisance.”
According to the Roglers the situation escalated into what they described as a “full blown attack.”
“Since requesting one rider to clean up manure as a result of riding on Douglas Hook Road, he has become confrontational to the point of harassment,” the letter continued. “This rider’s harassment has consisted of gestures, comments and verbal assault, while generally trying to intimidate us. As they went by the house, he began yelling and gesturing. They leave and come back again and became hostile towards my husband and I, yelling for my husband to come outside.”
The letter went on to describe what appeared to be a yelling match with the rider, later identified as Glocester resident Dave Bolduc allegedly dismounting and swearing at and threatening Allen Rogler and refusing to leave. Officers were called to the scene and deescalated the situation, according to police reports.
Rogler’s letter stated that Bolduc attempted to come into their driveway while they were talking to police and made “vulgar gestures.”
“The officers told him to get back on his horse and move further up the street,” the letter stated. “He (Bolduc) also said he didn’t get mad until my husband cursed in front of the daughter, which did not happen. My husband is a deacon at his church and is mindful of his language.”
Bolduc told the council the confrontation between he and the Roglers was misrepresented, and that he recorded the whole thing.
“I have it all on video,” he told the council. “I can show anybody the video. I did not say one word until he was already screaming at my daughter before he even knew I was there. That whole story is completely false.”
According to the police report, Lori Rogler said that she told Bolduc and his children that it was not safe for them to be riding their horses on the roadway, and that they should be cleaning up after the horses defecate on the roadway and sidewalk area. Bolduc and the Roglers then began to argue at the foot of the driveway, states the report. No physical altercation occurred and both parties agreed to go their separate ways for the night. Police cleared the scene without incident.
“This is something that got out of hand,” Police Chief Joseph DelPrete told the council. “We were very discreet. We deescalated it.”
DelPrete later told NRI NOW that appropriate actions would be taken should a similar incident occur in the future.
A second incident took place at the location with Jerika Verrier and her children while they were riding by on their horses. Verrier, who lives at 138 Tourtellote Hill Road in Chepachet, explained that she was following her children on their horses with her pick up truck, replete with a bucket and shovel in the back to not only keep an eye on them and ensure their safety, but to clean up any manure dropped along the way.
“I’m with them the whole time,” explained Verrier. “I pick up every single thing.”
Her daughter, she said, stopped to talk to Lori Rogler, and she mistakenly thought that her daughter and horse were being complimented.
“I just assumed they were having a nice conversation,” Verrier told the council. “It was not. She was threatening her – a nine-year-old girl. That letter is a little bit misconstrued from what actually happened on Saturday. I was there.”
When she attempted to approach Rogler, Verrier said, “She flipped me off and went inside. It was not a pleasant situation.”
She further explained that other people they encountered along the way loved seeing and petting the horses. From time to time, she said, her children ride to the local Dunkin on Putnam Pike with her in tow. They are respectful, clean up and are regularly greeted by people in a friendly manner.
Glocester is a small rural town of about 10,000 residents and within the town are a number of farms, including horse farms. But there is also a very busy business area in Chepachet Village, which is lined with store fronts. Charlie Wilson, owner of the Town Trader Antiques, located there, told the council that he has had to clean up horse manure on the sidewalk in front of his store a number of times.
“Are they supposed to be on the sidewalk? Are they supposed to clean up their mess?” he asked the council. “Are they supposed to be in the street? There are times when they have come through town I have had to clean up the messes. They also ride on the sidewalk. It is not a place for horses.”
Bolduc admitted he did not clean up his horses’ manure on the back roads, but that he did carry a folding shovel for more populated areas.
“I don’t pick it up and put it in a bag,” he told the council. “I throw it off to the side of the road.”
He added he and his daughter ride everywhere, including through nearby Scituate, without incident.
“This is the only time I have ever had an issue with anybody,” he told the council.
Bolduc added he doesn’t need advice from other people about his safety when riding horses through town or anywhere for that matter.
“She’s just using that as a ruse to get me gone,” he said.
“I think in a town like this, which is rural, you’ve got lots of farms in the area,” saidd Town Council President William Worthy. “I think at the end of the day, everybody needs to be safe.”
“I think at the end of the day we just need to look at the ordinance and make sure everybody’s aware of what that spells out,” said Council Vice President Stephen Arnold. “If there are not enough details, we’ll take a peek at it and address it.”
“I grew up in this town,” responded Bolduc. “I love this town. To outlaw horses, that would be crazy.”
Councilor Walter Steere pointed out that, regardless of where they rode, they are responsible for cleaning up any messes left behind.
“First of all, you should be cleaning up,” Steere told Bolduc.
He added that there are safety issues, especially along Putnam Pike where there is heavy traffic. Steere pointed out that Bolduc was involved in a major accident with horses in the past. According to a UPI report, dated October 13, 1995, a pickup truck crashed into the rear of a horse-drawn hay truck, killing one person and injuring 20 others, sending the horses running wild and dragging parts of the vehicle. The accident took place on Putnam Pike, not far from the Connecticut line shortly before darkness fell.
“I wasn’t on a horse,” responded Bolduc.
“No, but you should understand,” said Steere.
Steere added when Bolduc attended a concert on horseback at Glocester Municipal Park, he intentionally avoided contact with the town Recreation Director Robert Shields, riding off when he saw him approaching.
“The recreation director wanted to talk to you, and you took right off,” Steere said.
Bolduc said he didn’t know who Shields was.
“I witnessed that,” said Steere. “You took off before he got over there.”
“You tell me whatever you wish,” responded Bolduc.
“So, my concern is, we have a problem now,” said Steere. “One, I think it’s a safety problem. For the riders and the people who are driving. Two, there is a sanitation problem. I’m getting complaints.”
When Steere said whoever is leaving manure piles needs to clean it up, Bolduc said he would in the future.
“I will do that,” responded Bolduc.
DelPrete said he would research state laws and local ordinances regarding horses on state roads.
A second issue regarding horses in ponds or on public beaches was quickly resolved when Matt Verrier admitted he had ridden his horse, along with other others on horseback, into Spring Grove Pond during a ride in very hot temperatures. He said he was unaware of the law prohibiting animals near swimming areas but would not do that in the future. Verrier is running for Glocester Town Council.
Steere suggested putting the issue on the next agenda to both discover what laws do and do not apply to riders and if something should be done in terms of regulations to help ensure safety of all involved.
How about ensuring the safety of the riders with people who do not obey the laws regarding riders on horseback, like racing past them and blowing horns at them. That causes severe safety issues, as horses cannot see directly behind them and can become spooked. Most horse riders are very conscientious, as they do not want to be hurt nor do they want their horse hurt. Cleaning up is the right thing to do, but address all issues and not just focus on the horse and riders. As a former rider, I have seen horses get killed and people get seriously hurt because others do not obey the common courtesy rules to avoid issues.