Let Your Horse Do This in Iowa and You Could Be Arrested!

Amidst Iowa's rolling hills and plains lie a collection of peculiar laws, relics from bygone eras, or the result of extraordinary circumstances. These odd statutes, often bewildering yet oddly charming, reveal a fascinating glimpse into how a blend of local quirks, historical quirks, and legislative mishaps can shape the legal landscape. This is the story of Iowa's most unusual laws and the sometimes surprising tales behind their origins.  If you're not surprised or fascinated, please act like you are.  It's for the kids and you don't want to disappoint them, do you?  I didn't think so.

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The oddities that are Iowa laws

Picture yourself, Marshalltown Iowa, yesterday or 1937, it's hard to keep these dates straight.  You've got your horse tied up in town and uh, oh, it just ate a fire hydrant.  You are in big trouble.  That's an arrestable offense.  Yes, In Marshalltown, Iowa, a peculiar law from 1937 makes it illegal for animals to bite or eat fire hydrants, telephone poles, streetlights, and trees. The city code was updated to prohibit animals from being tied to or damaging these fixtures, and it also explicitly forbids them from nibbling on or consuming them.

What are they making fire hydrants out of these days?

The last time I checked, fire hydrants were made of metal.  I thought maybe when they were first invented they were made of wood or some other material, that wasn't metal.  It does not appear that they ever were.  I do know they were not made of sugar cubes so why would a horse eat one?  I've known many a horse owner and none have reported that their horse was a metal eater.  My friend Flicka would never eat metal.  Even if you accidentally back your horse into a fire hydrant, street light, or telephone pole,  I don't think you'd damage it but I'm no insurance accessor, how would I know?  That's why they're probably going to require backup cameras on your horses by 2030.

The grand finale for you

We now transition to the part where you thank me for reminding you about these laws.   I'll take it from here, you're welcome! I don't want you to get arrested.  Well, not totally true.  If you were arrested for an odd law from 1937, I'd probably write about that and use your mugshot as the main picture.  Here's the deal, don't do that to me because it wouldn't be fun or funny.  My horse is allowed to eat what it wants.  As of now, I don't have a horse but I don't know why you had to bring that up.