Police Respond to Large Group of Horseback Riders in Downtown Lafayette

(Lafayette, Louisiana) - The Lafayette Police Department had to address an odd occurrence over the weekend in Downtown Lafayette after several people showed up there on horseback.

According to KLFY News 10, the ride was advertised on Instagram, and participants were told to meet early that evening at Paul Davis Park; those who wanted to ride ATVs could join as well, and everyone would head into Downtown Lafayette.

Well, once the riders made their way into the downtown district, Lafayette Police were there, and according to some on-site, that's when things got wild.

KLFY spoke with someone who witnessed the police response after 10 p.m. on Saturday night as the horses arrived downtown, and she told the news station the horses seemed frightened by the police lights and sirens.

She said that she saw someone fall off the horse that they were on, and according to her statement to KLFY News 10, that's when police tased the person who was on the ground. According to the news report, LPD has not confirmed whether police used a taser in the incident.

In all, police arrested two people after the horses entered the downtown area, which was very busy on Saturday night.

KLFY News 10 spoke with Kevvin Blanchard, CEO of Downtown Development, who told the Lafayette news station they knew about the horse ride because it was advertised on social media. According to Blanchard, they notified LPD out of concern about there being "poop" on the roads once the horses made their way through downtown.

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Blanchard added that they were also concerned about downtown residents' safety on Saturday night, as they feared the horses could have been spooked by the crowd and the noise of so many people in an entertainment district.

The Lafayette Police Dept. says it is investigating the incident, and KLFY reports that another horse ride is being advertised for Halloween, but a route/location has not been announced.

Are Horses Legal on Roads in Louisiana?

Yes, according to state law, you can ride a horse on certain roads in Louisiana, but you can't ride on paved, black-topped, or asphalt-treated state highways. Some Louisiana parishes require permits and police escorts for rides or gatherings.

Below, I've linked the video of the horses in Downtown Lafayette that drew a crowd and a police response.