Slings and arrows won't stop Johnny Dodds riding his horse through Tauranga's streets.

The local horserider, who has been playing the part of a Red Indian since learning to ride horses bareback as a teenager, has been criticised recently for not cleaning up his horse's mess.

Keen horserider Johnny Dodds enjoys riding his horse through the streets of Tauranga.

He has also come under fire by residents for riding his horse on footpaths and along streets.

When SunLive caught up with him in Mount Maunganui he said he always tries to be considerate of others.

'I always clean up if I see the horse has left anything, but I've never had any complaints about horse manure.”

Johnny, who dresses in traditional Indian costume with war paint and feather headdress, and likes to go by the name Crazy Horse, has become a more common sight around town in recent months.

Tauranga City Councillor Murray Guy complained after witnessing his horse defecating on the footpath at the Tauranga waterfront playground opening.

'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.”

Johnny, who likes to exercise his horse Penny, says he tries to have a bit of fun on his weekly rides with Penny (his horse) from the paddock in Otumoetai to Mount Maunganui. He always tries to make way for pedestrians riding on the grass verge where possible.

'Most people are really friendly and a lot stop and want to give her a pat.”

If people are unsure of how to behave or are afraid of horses he encourages them to move to the side and let him ride by.

Johnny also regularly takes his horse Sid across to Matakana Island – with the horse swimming about 1km across the deepest part of the channel.

'I've been doing this for years. I've grown up with horses and have always loved the way the Indians treat their horses.”

He believes his interest in horses comes from his mother's family who were gypsies.

'I'm sure that's why I love riding and going on trips.”