Is It Illegal to Ride a Horse While Under the Influence in Texas?

I was at the stables where we've been keeping a family horse when I noticed an older man tilt up a bottle and polish off a long neck. Then he and a few others all hopped on their horses and went for a ride. While that behavior did not strike me as odd because as we say here in Texas "Them Cowboys love their beer."

While riding a horse after drinking on private property is not illegal, I'm told that it Is however frowned upon by the ranch owners. Not a big deal, until the horse-riding beer-drinking cowboys decided to ride outside the private ranch property and were riding down the road to get to another ranch. That's when the Cowboys broke the law and got in trouble.

What kind of trouble; you ask? Well, it's no different than Driving While Under the Influence. Furthermore, the laws carry a lot of the same punishments. So the answer is YES it's illegal to "Drink and Ride Your Horse in Texas," and you will be ticketed, fined, and possibly thrown in jail. All the same, laws apply as if you are driving a vehicle.

Yes, in Texas, it is illegal to ride a horse while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The Texas Penal Code states that it is a criminal offense to operate a vehicle. watercraft, or amusement rides while intoxicated. While the specific wording of the law refers to "vehicles," the term "vehicle" is broadly defined and includes horses.

Finally, under Texas law, intoxication is defined as having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher due to the consumption of alcohol or drugs. If you are found riding a horse while intoxicated, you will be charged with a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) and face the same penalties such as fines, license suspension, and even jail time.