Island Horse Etiquette Respects the Strength of These Working Animals
By Sean Ely

Austin Ruddle rides Kiwoa on Market Street as Cindy's Riding Stable employee Alyssa Tucholski supervises Wednesday, June 13. Miss Tucholski believes visitors should be relaxed when around horses. A horse can sense if someone is scared or intimidated. They are gentle animals, and treating them with sincerity is important, she said.

Horses, not cars, are the primary form of transportation on Mackinac Island, but people should treat them with the same care and respect they would a prized automobile.

Island veterinarian Dr. Alan Sibinic believes these gentle but powerful animals need all the care and compassion that a classic 1967 Corvette would get, and the same "rules of the road" need to be kept in mind at all times, whether one is downtown or in Harrisonville.

"It's important to treat them like they are a vehicle with a motor constantly running," he said of horses. "You wouldn't let your kids run in front of a car, or climb under it."

Horses, like motor vehicles, are powerful, and that, he said, is the key to understanding the precautions to be taken when around them. Horses should be given enough room to maneuver.

Every animal species has its own language, Dr. Sibinic said, "and horses have theirs, and you have to be aware of it so the horse understands what you are asking of it. When you have that between you two, it's a whole lot easier. It's important to let them know you're there to comfort them, and not hurt them."

There are many things that residents and visitors should keep in mind when in the vicinity of a horse. The downtown area is filled with taxis, tour carriages, and horseback riders, and, while rare, a horse can get spooked, begin jerking its head, jump sideways, and try to flee from danger.

Islanders employ a number of cautionary rules to keep horses calm and the streets of Mackinac Island running smoothly and carefree.

"Horses are predictable in their unpredictability," said Dr. Bill Chambers, a veterinarian and general manager of Mackinac Island Carriage Tours. "That's the key to the whole thing. Every horse has a different kind of temperament. Some don't mind you touching them, while some do. Some are shyer around their head, while some are shyer at their legs and feet. Since we know this, let's simply observe them. They are heavy horses that are in shape and ready to go to work. Let's let them do just that."

Teamster Jim Pettit, who has been working with horses for 26 years, concurs.

"The number one rule to remember," he said, "is don't touch the horses. The horses have blinders on, and if they get poked in the butt and can't see it, it can startle them, because most horses are timid. People always want to pet them, but it's important not to because they can and will bite. We don't want anyone getting hurt this way."

Mr. Pettit said it is crucial to keep one's distance from the horses. Someone might think they are a safe distance when riding by a parked carriage or dray, but a horse could swing its head violently to one side to grab a fly, which could result in someone getting clunked by the animal's long snout and metal bridle. Just like a human being, he noted, one should give the horses some personal space, some room to move around.

"People just need to remem- ber to take it easy around them," Dr. Sibinic said. "Always respect them for their size and power. Respect is a giant part of keeping these large animals at ease."

Loud noises, including shouting and noise-makers sold in some gift ships, are another trigger.

Because horses would be prey animals in the wild, their main defense is to take off running at the first sign of danger. Sudden noises or movements can trigger that flight reaction, say horse handlers.

It is important to avoid sudden movements, such as violently shaking off an umbrella underneath an awning when it is raining. Look around to see if any horses are approaching before shaking a wet umbrella, said Dr. Chambers.

Some people are curious as to why skateboarding and inline skating are banned in the downtown area, but the answer, once again, lies with the horses. Mr. Pettit said that no matter how good of a skater someone is, anyone can slip and let a skateboard go flying underneath a horse, causing mayhem. Even running in the direction of a horse can give them the wrong idea, causing them to jerk and panic. And that concern is with good skaters. Bad ones would be even more trouble.

Paper, plastic bags, and other flying debris can also frighten horses.

"If a carriage or dray driver tells you to please pick up a piece of paper or a bag, help them out and do it, to avoid any trouble with the horses. They can't get down and do it themselves," Mr. Pettit said. "They have to stay with their horses at all times, so do them the favor and clear the streets when it's possible."

While on the mainland, pedestrians often have the right of way, on Mackinac Island, it's the horses who get the preferential treatment. They are large and working and people can move out of the way more easily than a team of carriage horses.

"Especially going up a hill, it's important to clear the way for horses pulling a large load," Mr. Pettit said. "When someone refuses to get out of the way, that's not good for anybody. Listen to the driver at all times; they know what they are doing."

Keeping the streets clear of parked bicycles is also important. When parking on Main Street, make sure the bicycle is between the thick white line and the curb so it doesn't get clipped by a carriage.

Keeping children in check is also a courtesy that horses and their drivers will appreciate.

Dr. Chambers wants parents to bear in mind that accidents can happen quickly and unsupervised children can get under a horse easily, or swat one on the snout while parents are preoccupied.

"You can't scare the little kids about them," advises Dr. Chambers, "and you definitely can't say, 'Don't touch the horse.' That scares the little kid, and they shouldn't be scared. Simply caution them a little bit, and hold the child, let them look at the horse from a safe distance. Children shouldn't be too far away from their parents. Of course, they want to have fun, but just monitor them. Don't let them run halfway down the street without you. Especially when children are riding their bicycles, it is important, in the town area, to keep them up close to you, and don't let them get so far ahead of you. A horse could swing its head or jump sideways at any time, so it's important to give space."

Saddle horses come with their own set of rules.

"The metal shoes on the horses make their feet a little more sensitive to the concrete they are walking on, so always walk the animals at a slower pace when on tougher surfaces," said Dale Gough, who is director of operations at Cindy's Riding Stable and Jack's Livery.

The stables employ guides to go with the riders, to make sure the horses are in good hands and that the horseback riding experience is positive.

Here, too, respect is the key to safety around horses.

"Give the horses a lot of respect," said Mr. Pettit. "You think they are big, gentle puppy dogs, but you never know what's going to happen."