That’s what this guy in Texas did…and according to the law there, it’s perfectly legal.
http://www.newswest9.com/2019/03/12/video-horse-back-pickup-texas-highway/
well at least the horse is not holding the driver’s beer for them
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It was a scary, dangerous sight!
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:eek: That’s just crazy.
Years ago I knew of a guy who hauled his horse in the back of a pickup. He built two stalls into the bed of his truck, much like a straight load two horse, with the horse’s head over the cab. One stall contained the horse, and the other stall had crates for hunting hounds. His palomino gelding would jump right up into the horse stall with no issues. At least it was solidly built and seemed secure. Nothing like the craziness in the OP’s link!!
Long before I was alive, it was pretty common in the area I live in for people to transport horses in the back of pickups with stock racks.
Just last summer, I came across someone who had backed in to the ditch with his truck, stock rack mounted and was leading his horse over to get in. I felt like I had somehow transported back in time. I almost stopped to watch the horses load up.
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That is a saint of a horse!
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Stock rack, and a fly mask for dust, I can just about see. Sort of. That picture though!! Note too the lack of tailgate, the other stuff in the bed, and reins being held by the driver!?? Interesting to see how the horse braced himself though…doubt it is the first time.
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That was my reaction, too!
The horse has clearly done it before, but I’m just picturing something going wrong and the horse steps backward right off the back of the truck at 70 mph. God is obviously looking out for these people.
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Crazy, a ticket for an unsecured load would fit that picture.
The news story I heard said he works at the local stockyards and his pickup would not start, so he hauled the horse like that.
At least he should have been driving slow and down side roads, if he felt like that was his only choice.
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When I lived in 29 Palms CA back in the late 60s the “barn manager” would transport all of his personal horses in the back of his pick up truck. He had it rigged with some sort of ramp and had side panels that went up. I think he could load 2 QH and 2 ponies in it. I think there are a couple of older rodeo type westerns where you see some guys hauling horses that way… Guess back then it was the norm - but I never saw anything like this vidoe:eek:
I would like to buy that horse. Apparently, nothing phases him.
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Many years ago, when I lived on a ranch, horses jumping into a pickup with a stock rack from a bank was a common way to haul them. However, according to my dad, who was the driver, the pickup was unstable when driven. He also witnessed a horse jump out of such an arrangement onto the road, and of course was killed. He never forgot it, and thankfully I didn’t see it.
Back in the 70s around here it was very common place for pickup trucks to be fixed up to haul horses and ponies. Most of these trucks were hand built with wood, and most had ramps. In fact the county fair still has a hill with one side a wall of RR ties to back up to, so you can unload your livestock for the ones without ramps.
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This is exactly what i said last night when this was on the news! Of course the majority had higher wood sides, or pipe sides but not every one.
We all know the damage to autos when they hit a deer. Horrible to imagine who might have killed or injured if the horse fell out of the truck on the interstate. Dumb guy.
What an idiot! How is it not illegal? Wouldn’t holding a horses reins be similar to driving and playing with your cell phone? I mean, the driver is obviously distracted. And that horse is NOT secure. Can you imagine the damage to another vehicle if he fell out? Omg I just can’t even today
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It wasn’t that long ago…or I’m getting to be reallyyyy old.
Back in the 1960’s in the western states you could see pickups rolling down interstates with horses in the back of pickup trucks with stock racks.
The horses did not have reins going thru the back window, though.
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People still do this with ponies in the place where I grew up. It’s sickening and I report it every time I see it.
I saw something similar last summer…but worse in some respects.
Amish guy driving a lawn mower, pulling a flatbed trailer with a pony standing in the back. Completely unsecured. Going down a major, 4 lane state highway halfway on the shoulder and half in the right lane. Double trailer semis driving by at 65 mph.
I was too astonished to grab my phone and try to photograph it but I said a little prayer for the pony and hoped they weren’t going far…
