An American Indian dressed man who rides his horse through the streets of Tauranga is turning heads – and has one city councillor concerned about his activities.
The man, believed to be named Johnny, has been seen riding his horse through the city centre, in Mount Maunganui and Matua recently dressed in unusual attire.
Johnny riding his horse on The Strand waterfront on Saturday afternoon.
On Saturday, June 22 the horse rider was spotted at the Tauranga waterfront playground opening – but it was not a pretty sight for some.
Tauranga City Councillor Murray Guy observed the man's horse defecating on the footpath, which was left behind as Johnny rode off.
'There are significant risks associated with the activities of the horse and rider, including to road users.”
Murray says he also witnessed Johnny riding down the centre of Willow Street and the footpath during his trip around the city on Saturday.
'The Strand waterfront and new playground is not the place to ride a horse in safety, nor the place to allow a horse to defecate and not remove the same.
'I am not aware of any regulations that restrict or prohibit horses from public spaces, other than those specifically sign posted and identified sensitive areas on coast and harbour margins.”
Murray imagines an individual in charge of a horse has to comply with street use regulations as applies to any other user.
'It may be that the rider in this instance has a reduced understanding of the risks associated with his behaviour.”
Have you seen Johnny? What do you think?
Comment here.
23 comments
giddiyup
Posted on 28-06-2013 09:03 | By paul
Yep I know johnny well I bet the kids loved it. Ok for councilor guy to comment but I bet he didn't have the guts to speak with him or did any other authorities. Try doing ur jobs properly.
Parking
Posted on 28-06-2013 09:05 | By penguin
Perhaps it's Johnny's answer to the new parking regime - the council can charge for motorised vehicles but not for horses....?
me again
Posted on 28-06-2013 09:10 | By paul
I think id be happier standing in a horse turd than than the vommitt and broken glass thats usually there on the weekends instead of photographing it put it in the garden its only grass
.
Posted on 28-06-2013 09:32 | By Reeff
I think a kids playground near rail way lines and water is more dangerous than a man riding a horse around. Isnt this the way it used to be before cars etc....loosen up if anything he is probably an attraction for this place rather than a danger!
Posted on 28-06-2013 09:33 | By Dr Gonzo
First. But really ... I think it is fandiddlytastic that someone (especially a councillor) is concerned about this. People should be concerned about things. Especially things that are different in any way shape or form to the norm. Things that are not normal should be stamped out with Orwellian efficiency. Down with the people who stand out and make our city different. We should strive for dull and gormless. Yes this is the only way. If only someone would take a stand and make this their election platform. How dare any right minded person allow such a thig to happen. Quick regluate against it and anything else that appears to slightly offend any small minority.
Have had concerns for sometime
Posted on 28-06-2013 10:41 | By The Sage
I see this chap riding his horse a lot. The horse is kept in a paddock in Ngatai Road and Johnny regularly rides the horse through Fergusson Park and across the sand. I have concerns for both the welfare of the horse and the public, especially young children and those walking dogs. The horse is made to swim across the channel to Matakana Island sometimes and I do not believe this is much fun for the horse and have wondered whether the SPCA should be involved. Johnny's behaviour seems most unusual.
Check with Creative Tauranga
Posted on 28-06-2013 10:55 | By Rusty Kane
Murray should check with Creative Tauranga first the Umbrella agency for all things arts and cultural in the Bay of Plenty .. Johnny and his horse might be the result of their community workshops to bring life but into the CBD and the horse is just leaving behind little love notes ..
Murray's right
Posted on 28-06-2013 11:23 | By bridp
I live on a very busy arterial road, have see horse and rider between white line and footpath. As horses can scare, I do wonder if there is an accident waiting to happen. The appropriate place is an open space, not in built up areas, especially the CBD. Everything is fine, in the right place and time.
Giddyup common sense
Posted on 28-06-2013 12:28 | By Papamoaner
Characters like this make a positive contribution by adding colour to a city. Just ask him to attach a dung bag to the rear of his horse like the horses in Melbourne city centre do. Apart from that, leave him alone and don't create a bureaucratic atmosphere.
Nuisance
Posted on 28-06-2013 13:43 | By Dawn
This guy is a danger to the public - there is something seriously wrong with him.
Johnny
Posted on 28-06-2013 14:19 | By M Jefferson
OMG. Just saw this guy at the chapel st intersection on his horse. He couldn't be bothered pressing the button to cross the road and just rode his horse out in front of a car! The poor horse. Then he rode it amongst the traffic waiting at the stop light and had to hightail it onto the footpath when the lights went green. Are the police onto this guy? He doesn't even ride with a helmet.
0
Posted on 28-06-2013 16:16 | By whatsinaname
yes he should be made to clean up after his horse,. also I am sure he is doing no harm otherwise........... adds a bit of character to Tauranga which it badly needs............. come on loosen up people and enjoy the out of the ordinary
i still wonder
Posted on 28-06-2013 16:35 | By Capt_Kaveman
if the law allows sheep to still be mustered down mt main st
WTF
Posted on 28-06-2013 16:45 | By maildrop
What sort of indian name is Johnny? He should call himself Crazy Horse. I just passed him on Hewletts Road and wondered what the hell is going on. Crazy fool.
Indian Johnny
Posted on 28-06-2013 16:49 | By grumpyme
Unlike drab Mrs Grundy on the Council there, whenever I see Indian Johny I feel cheered by the surprising, colourful and exotic element that he brings to our city. I feel much more concerned about the dog walkers who encourage their pests to defecate behind my hedge while their backs are turned and their plastic gloves are tucked in their pockets than I do about Johnny's horse's droppings, remembering a time when neighbours competed to be the first to gather such offerings for the benefit of their bountiful gardens.
dangerous and in humane
Posted on 28-06-2013 20:15 | By kiely
this guy is a menace we were having a little 1 year olds birthday at Kulim park and this clown rode straight through it no thought for the kids we quickly grabbed the kids and he didn't even batter an eye lid he made his horse pull up and act in safe because he was clearly pulling the reins to tight not to mention his horse is unhealthily skinny and the fact he canters along the road which is not good on the legs of a horse as any horse rider would no it is time spca looked into the health of the horse. spooted him a few weeks ago hlding up traffic across the chapel street bridge before riding in the middle of the road what if that horse had of reared up its an accident waiting to happen someone needs to stand up
Johnny on the horse
Posted on 28-06-2013 22:08 | By barbdave
What a delight,my Grandaughter and I saw him and took a 2nd take and couldn't believe our eyes.Nice to see something spontaneous and fun that brings a smile
Fun Policeman Murray Guy
Posted on 29-06-2013 16:36 | By Honki
significant risks, regulations, DANGER! Get off your high horse Murray Guy - we can all go about our daily lives without you councillors being overly concerned for our safety. ITS A GUY ON A HORSE! Must every activity be monitored and regulated by the council fun police? The council sticks a playground (PS how DID you spend $300k on 4 structures?) in between the railway tracks and a drop into the harbour, but the horse is the danger? Another reason we need a clear out at city hall.
Let's get real
Posted on 29-06-2013 22:19 | By The Sage
The welfsre of this horse is my main concern. Driving past the paddock it is kept in today, its ribs are clearly protruding which means it is under fed and not properly cared for. Forget the colourful Johnny and warm fuzzy stuff, the SPCA needs to become involved.
tuna33
Posted on 30-06-2013 11:48 | By tuna33
with the price of fuel maybe the council should have made the new parking by cliff road a paddock maybe someone might start riding to work
well done again TCC
Posted on 03-07-2013 14:32 | By tinkerbell
Again another wonderful decision by Mr Guy and the TCC. Great idea to spend 300k on a new play ground for the drunken folk to injury themselves, pee allover, and destroy over the weekends. I'm sure that the police & Other emergency services have nothing better to do than deal with the aftermath of what is undoublable going to happen to this play ground. Look at what happens to Memorial Park over night. But I guess a guy on a horse is just SOOOOOO unacceptable in such a posh inviting area as the waterfront. Maybe Mr Guy could stop with the seat polishing in the office and get out ther and live a little. Oh that is if we are indeed aloud to live. And as for all you goodie goods that have no understanding of horses or horsemanship. To say tat Jonny is a little mad is rather showing that you are the mad one's. Obviously he would not take a horse out into a traffic/ built up area if it was as us horsie people would say BOMB PROOF!!! Ok maybe he should be made to clean up the deposits but who makes the drunken idiot's clean anything up after they deopsit god only knows areound your lovely CBD!!!!!. Leave the guy alone Tauranga is such a boring place that there is no way a 300k palyground is going to liven it up!!!!!
He scared my kids
Posted on 05-07-2013 15:38 | By Bluebeet
My kids couldn't quite understand it, as he didn't say anything and it came accross and quite menacing, the horse seemed very young, and he seems a good horseman, but horses are unpredictable, and I was concerned for my kids safety. I saw him another time riding accross 15th ave along boys college, 2 girls on the footpath saw him too and ran for cover. Someone needs to talk to him and find out what his angle is.
Skinny
Posted on 08-07-2013 13:54 | By vandy10
I tried to examine the photo to see if the horse was skinny as some are saying,unfortunatly it wouldnt expand,but some breeds of horses are thinner than others..that was my main concern,apart from that,get the tail bag and brighten up this city by riding your horse,clearly you wouldnt if it was a danger to others,yourself and the horse itself..where the law books now folks?
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.