National Ride Your Horse to a Bar Day

When Horses Meet Happy Hour

You’ve heard of designated drivers—now meet the designated neigh-vigator. National Ride Your Horse to a Bar Day celebrates one of the oldest and most cinematic modes of transport: the trusty horse. And where better to trot off to than your local bar? Whether you're channeling a Wild West gunslinger or just want to make an unforgettable entrance, this quirky day honors the rare but real bond between cowboy culture and saloon life.

A Saddle-Up on History

Long before the roar of engines and the glow of neon signs, bars were dusty saloons and transportation came with four hooves and a tail. Riding your horse to the bar wasn’t just accepted—it was expected. In the days when horses were the main form of transport, your loyal steed was as essential as your wallet.

Back in the 1800s, American frontier towns were sprinkled with saloons—part watering hole, part town hall, and often part boxing ring. Cowboys, miners, ranchers, and weary travelers would ride in from miles away, tie up their horses outside, and step inside to wet their whistle with whiskey, beer, or a warm cup of something questionable.

Bars had hitching posts right out front, often with water troughs so your horse could enjoy a refreshment too. If you were a regular, the bartender probably knew your name and your horse’s. In smaller towns, the horse knew the way home better than its rider—particularly helpful after a long night of “storytelling.”

In the Wild West, the line between human and horse hospitality was thin. Some saloons were built with lean-tos or shaded areas where horses could rest during their owner’s extended visit. During festivals or town gatherings, streets were lined with more tied-up horses than parked wagons, giving rise to an equine version of today’s packed parking lot.

Even in cities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was still common to ride to the local bar or tavern. Horses didn’t just serve farmers and ranchers—they were everyday transport for city dwellers, too. Before the invention of the automobile, it wasn’t unusual to see finely dressed gentlemen in top hats dismounting from a buggy or saddle horse outside a posh urban pub.

Of course, with horses being the Uber of the day, there were occasional mishaps. There are newspaper accounts from the 1800s of inebriated cowboys mistaking their horse for a dance partner—or worse, for the bar stool. One even tried to ride his horse through the saloon doors, convinced his trusty steed "deserved a drink for putting up with him."

As cars began to take over the roads in the early 20th century, the tradition of riding to a bar dwindled. Roads turned to asphalt, hitching posts disappeared, and horses slowly retreated to pastures, racetracks, and rodeos. But in small towns across the U.S.—especially in cowboy country—the spirit of riding to a bar lives on. And on April 2nd, it gets its day in the sun.

Horse Walks Into a Bar… And It’s Legal?

It sounds like the start of a joke, but the idea of riding your horse to a bar is not only steeped in history—it’s occasionally still perfectly legal. Emphasis on occasionally.

In many rural areas across the United States, horses are still considered a legitimate form of transportation. After all, they don’t require gas, they usually know the way home, and—bonus—they won’t let you text and ride. But legal doesn’t always mean wise. Depending on the state, city ordinances, and whether your horse has a good sense of direction, you may be trotting a fine legal line.

Can You Get a DUI on a Horse?

Short answer? Yes.
Long answer? Yes, and it happens more often than you’d think.

While horses aren’t motorized vehicles, many states define “vehicles” for DUI laws broadly enough to include anything you're controlling on public roads—including horses, bicycles, golf carts, and even lawnmowers. (Yes, someone has definitely tried to ride a riding mower to the bar. No, it didn’t go well.)

For example:

• • In Colorado, a man was arrested in 2013 for riding his horse under the influence. The horse was reportedly well-behaved. The rider? Less so.
  • In Kentucky, courts have upheld DUI charges against intoxicated riders, even when the horses themselves were stone-cold sober.
  • In California, you might dodge a DUI—but you could still get charged with public intoxication or creating a traffic hazard.

So if you plan on saddling up for a bar crawl, keep in mind that your horse may be allowed to carry you there, but it can’t carry you through a breathalyzer.

The Hitching Post Loophole

In towns that embrace their western heritage—like Bandera, Texas or Deadwood, South Dakota—some bars still have working hitching posts. These aren’t just for show; locals (and especially tourists who took the theme a little too seriously) occasionally use them. In those areas, law enforcement might look the other way if your horse is behaving, you’re walking straight, and nobody’s getting trampled. It’s not an official “Get Out of Jail Free” card, but it’s probably the closest you’ll get with manure on your boots.

Common-Sense Horse Bar Rules (Mostly Unspoken)

1. 1. If the horse is inside the bar, you’ve gone too far.
   2. No riding through drive-thrus. The horse doesn't want fries.
   3. Your horse doesn’t need a drink, but it will need water. Be a good riding buddy.
   4. If the bartender knows your horse’s favorite song, you might want to consider switching bars. Or getting help.

Fun (and Somewhat Surprising) Facts

You’d be surprised what you can learn when you start digging into the history of horses and hooch. From saloon-side horse culture to modern-day hoofed hijinks, this holiday comes with more than its fair share of quirky trivia. Whether you're the type who likes to impress your friends with weird knowledge or just want to justify your newfound interest in saddles and suds, these fun facts are sure to leave you neighing with delight.

• In the Old West, it wasn’t uncommon for horses to be better behaved than some of the bar patrons.
• Some modern bars in Texas, Wyoming, and Montana still have hitching posts—and they’re used!
• There’s a pub in England called The Horse and Groom, which ironically discourages equine visitors.
• In 2013, a man in Colorado actually rode his horse to a bar... and got arrested. The charge? DUI. The horse was unharmed and slightly annoyed.

How to Celebrate (Without Getting Kicked)

Let’s be honest—most of us don’t have a horse waiting patiently in the backyard, ready for a pub crawl. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy National Ride Your Horse to a Bar Day with style. Whether you’re in the city, suburbs, or out in true cowboy country, there are plenty of ways to honor this offbeat occasion. Just grab your best boots, channel your inner outlaw, and get ready to ride—or at least pretend like you are.

• Saddle Up (Responsibly): If you're lucky enough to have a horse and live in a town where this won’t get you fined or laughed out of town, ride safe, wear a helmet, and bring a friend.
• Bar Hop with a Twist: No horse? No problem. Dress like a cowboy and bring a plush pony or hobby horse. Bonus points if you name it something like “Tequila Sunrise” or “Neigh Sayer.”
• Toast to Tradition: Order an Old Fashioned, a shot of whiskey, or go full cowboy with a beer and a beef jerky sidecar.
• Horse-Themed Pub Night: Host a get-together where everyone comes in boots and hats, and play horse trivia, rodeo bingo, or watch a Western.

A Few Neigh-Worthy Jokes

• Why did the cowboy get kicked out of the bar? He brought a stable relationship.
• Bartender: “Why the long face?” Horse: “I just found out it’s not actually Bring Your Horse to Work Day.”
• I tried to ride my horse into a bar, but the bouncer said, “No hoofing it inside.”

Bottom Line

National Ride Your Horse to a Bar Day isn’t just about the literal act of galloping up to your local saloon (although if you do, please send pictures). It’s about nostalgia, tradition, and a little bit of wild-eyed fun. It’s a nod to simpler times when transportation was four-legged and the phrase “Hold your horses!” had real-world applications.

So whether you’re a city slicker dreaming of the open plains or a seasoned rancher with a spirited mare named Margarita, saddle up your sense of humor and ride into the sunset—or at least to happy hour.

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