GLOCESTER – The question of horse riders cleaning up after themselves and safety issues regarding horse riding in town led to a full house of horse owners at the recent Glocester Town Council meeting. Most attendees were concerned about ordinances being put in place that might effect their riding on town property, highways or local roads.
Residents had complained recently about horse manure being left on sidewalks and on residents’ driveways, as well as other issues regarding horse riding in town.
“I think we all love horses,” said Worthy. “This is a rural town. You don’t want more laws and rules. Some things don’t need a law because they require common sense, and they ask for decency among human beings.”
The first thing to think about is safety, he added.
“We don’t want the horse to rear up,” added Worthy. “We don’t want some car that is just trying to get home from work getting into a situation they don’t want to be in.”
The second thing, he said, is that people have to be kind to one another.
“We have businesses in town,” Worthy said. “They don’t want to have poo on their sidewalks. We want to be good neighbors to everyone in Glocester. I think you have to clean up after yourself.”
Glocester is a small rural town of about 10,000 residents with 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.
Worthy said he understands that picking up a load of horse manure might cause problems, given the amount of manure that might be dropped by a horse, and what it would require to pick it up and take it with you. But, he added, being a good neighbor is important.
State laws prohibit any animals from being on beaches, said Town Solicitor David Igliozzi, but the topic of picking up droppings on roads and sidewalks is not strictly addressed. What those laws do say, however, is that nothing can be dropped on roads or sidewalks.
“There are a couple of places in the ordinance that say you can’t leave any snow, ice, or any substance on a town road,” Igliozzi explained. “‘Any substance’ can cover poo, right?”
Igliozzi said that the council could add a solid waste provision saying you have to clean up after your animals. That, he said, was the only thing being considered.
“As far as horses operating on town roads and the safety issue, it’s up to the police and people riding the horses,” Igliozzi said.
“I think one individual situation made all of this come to light,” said Council Vice President Stephen Arnold, referring to an incident in which police were recently called to the scene of an argument over horse droppings in a driveway.
According to the police report, Lori Rogler said that she told Dave 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 Roglers’ 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.
“I think the lion’s share of the town enjoys the horses,” said Arnold. “The lion’s share of horse owners are very responsible. They pick up after themselves. They use common sense, and, so, I certainly don’t have an appetite to start micromanaging.”
“We’re not creating anything new,” agreed councilor Jonathan Burlingame. “Clean up after yourself. We can clarify it, if the council wishes to.”
“I think it’s a possibility the council could clarify it,” agreed Igliozzi.
“If you ride horses, you have to clean up after yourself,” agreed Councilor Cheryl Greathouse.
The council agreed to the issue on the agenda for the next meeting in order to better clarify the ordinance formally.
