The woman on the high river told us not to ride in the city

HIGH RIVER, ALTA. –

A woman who runs an equine rehabilitation facility near High River, Alta., says the city does not support her riding horses as a means of transportation in the community.

“(I've) been riding in the city for about four (years) and had no problems until last year when people started complaining,” Shelby Opheim said.

“Now if it's poop or if we're on our way, we're not really sure because no one has told us.”

Opheim says he buys and rehabilitates horses that are injured or slated for slaughter. Once rehabilitated, she sells or rehomes the rescued horses.

“Coming to the city is so insensitive to them that no one should be hurt when they go to a new home. “They should not worry about the horse running away,” said Ofeim.

“In a town with a feedlot five minutes away, Cargill five minutes away, these places bring us money. So why doesn't the community support people who use horses as transportation to come and meet our needs?”

(Source: @2heartsequinerehabilitation/Instagram)

Ofeim says he is being “harassed” by city law enforcement officers, who he says have pulled over five times while riding a horse in the past six months.

The most recent interaction was last Tuesday after he left a Tim Hortons Drive-Thru and went grocery shopping in town.

Reached for comment, the city of Upper River said it was investigating the matter but would not comment.

High River's traffic regulations do not specifically state that horses are not permitted as vehicles on public roads.

“No person shall operate an automobile, off-road vehicle, horse-drawn vehicle, or ride a horse or other animal on any baseball diamond, football field, other sports field, and any area designated as a park, square, or other public place. without prior permission, except for directions provided for this purpose,” the city's website says.

Anyone found in violation could be fined $200.

The Upper River Active Transportation Plan outlines several transportation options.

“Active transportation includes any form of human-powered vehicle, such as walking, bicycling, or moving through skateboards, skates, scooters, wheelchairs, and other modes,” the plan states.

“It can also include winter activities (such as skiing and snowboarding), water-based activities (such as canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding) and even horseback riding.

“It says we can ride horses and carriages, just don't ride where you don't belong,” Opheim said.

“Baseball diamonds, football fields, schoolyards, reasonable places and you act as a vehicle. We use hand signals to turn, act as vehicles or cyclists.

Mayor Craig Snodgrass said Opheim could ride his horse in the city.

“There is nothing in our bylaws that prohibits people from riding horses in this city, and it remains that way,” Snodgrass said.

“Our (rules) guys get opinions from our lawyers. Whenever you do this, the attorneys will always give you a safe opinion and they will probably say no because it protects everyone. I don't agree with that, with their interpretation of our current law.”

Snodgrass admits the situation was “stupid”.

“If there is a horse ban in the city, then the law should directly say that there are no horses, which is not the case,” he said.

“So, in High River, you're more than happy to ride your horse around town, on the streets.”