A WOMAN has vowed to fight after being slugged with a $44 fine for leading her horse down a street in the small bush town of Woodford.
Judy Wicks was issued the fine last Tuesday following an incident at 9.30am on September 20 when, she said, a car sped past her and her 19-year-old mare Danny.
"I've been riding 41 years and this is the first time I've been booked for riding on the road,'' Ms Wicks said.
"I didn't do anything wrong. Horses have right of way.''
Ms Wicks said she had just crossed the bridge on George St when a car went past at 50-60km/h, ignoring her signal to slow down, causing Danny to jump forward in fright.
Danny, she said, had already been upset by traffic and was "freaking out''.
The ticket was issued for a breach of Section 301B of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management-Road Rules) Regulation 2009.
It says a person must not ride or lead an animal on a road or road shoulder if it is "practicable'' not to. The maximum fine is $2200.
Woodford police officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Jason Renwick said the footbridge was 2.5m wide: more than enough for a horse.
Sen-Sgt Renwick said the law was designed to protect horses and riders from being struck by cars.
"What happens if a car had hit her?''
He said police had also spoken to the car driver about their obligation to give way to a "restive''
(hard to control) horse.
Ms Wicks said it would have been unsafe to lead Danny across the footbridge.
"If I had crossed it she would have freaked out,'' she said.
Queensland Horse Council president Debbie Dekker said section 303A of the regulation says that if the person in control of a horse holds up their hand drivers are required to pull over and stop.
Mrs Dekker said many riders complained about drivers not slowing as they passed horses.
She said people had been killed because horses had panicked and run into them.
Ms Wicks admitted she had taken Danny out to get her used to traffic.
"She comes from Stony Creek (west of Woodford) and there's no traffic out there,'' she said.
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