Mississippi still has places where horses and vehicles (cars and trucks) are sharing the road. The number of horses being ridden in Mississippi means that if roadways or trails are shared by cars and horses that cars and trucks could be involved in wrecks with people riding a horse if those driving automobiles are not keeping a proper lookout. A horse with rider is around 3 feet wide and at least 8 feet tall. It is easy to see someone riding a horse coming, and avoiding an animal that is usually at a walk or trot should be easy if the vehicle is under proper control and keeping a proper looking.

Mississippi law provides that any person riding a horse or driving has the same rights and duties applicable to a driver of an automobile.

Miss. Code Ann. Section 63-3-207

Every person riding a bicycle or an animal or driving any animal drawing a vehicle upon a highway shall have all of the rights and all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle under this chapter, except those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.

Unfortunately, distracted driving, texting and browsing the internet on a cell phone while driving all happen far too frequently in Mississippi and when a driver is distracted they can either fail to see the obstacle in front of them or react more slowly because their attention is not where it should have been. When a wreck does happen between a car or truck and a horse the damage to the person riding a horse is often serious and often require major medical treatment. Individuals involved in this type of wreck may fall from the horse, may experience the force from a large vehicle throwing them and causing broken bones or head injury. After the wreck it may be in the best interest of all involved to consult a doctor and see if the injuries from the wreck are serious enough to require additional attention.