Updated 1.00pm: Witnesses are giving evidence in a judge-alone trial for Christchurch's well-known homeless horseman.

Richard Hayden is charged with endangering public safety after his horse ran in front of a car last year.

The driver's car was written off and the horse had to be put down.

In a written statement, a witness to the incident described seeing a horse without a saddle, running backwards and forwards, and sounding distressed.

But Richard Hayden told Judge David Ruth when he had control over the horse it was fully bridled.

"Archie jumped the fence, and he's galloped off, I've never seen the horse gallop. And he stood on the rope and the head collar on him busted off and he was free."

Constable Glenn Alder told the court when he arrived at the scene, the 47-year-old appeared to be drunk.

Richard Hayden says that's a lie.

"Am I drunk? I'm waving my arms. Am I drunk because I'm speaking too much? Oh yeah, tumeke. Well I look rough? Thank you."