Am I allowed to ride on a public footpath???

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According to my YO you are absolutely NOT permitted to ride on footpaths - the land owner can be reported and fined. We used to ride on part of one of her footpaths (we are lucky enough to have a private farm to ride around) and then a dog walker reported the track as being cut up because of horse hooves and she was paid a visit. If you have a footpath on your land you are legally obliged to ensure it is passable by WALKERS at all times, and that it is clear of any obstacles.

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Thank you Weezy.
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And fiddle sticks..
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I don't think our paths have ever been used by horses. But I will research any possibility! Perhaps old maps may be a good place to start? I will try Edina..
 
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According to my YO you are absolutely NOT permitted to ride on footpaths - the land owner can be reported and fined. We used to ride on part of one of her footpaths (we are lucky enough to have a private farm to ride around) and then a dog walker reported the track as being cut up because of horse hooves and she was paid a visit. If you have a footpath on your land you are legally obliged to ensure it is passable by WALKERS at all times, and that it is clear of any obstacles.


[/ QUOTE ] Hmmmm ... not heard this before. Are you sure that is not actually the case that the damage is the problem, rather than the fact that horses are using it? If horse-riders can use a footpath without damaging the surface (ie avoiding using it in wet weather etc) and have the permission of the landowner than I thought it was OK? (And I do it often
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There is a footpath near us that is tarmaced for much of its length and is used for vehicular access for the houses down there. Surely motor vehicles wouldn't be allowed down there (with permission of landowner) if your premise is correct. However, if the track wasn't surfaced and they were driving down it to their houses then I'm sure the council could fine them for churning up the surface.

I'm sure Peter Natt could clarify this one for us!
 
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Are you sure that is not actually the case that the damage is the problem, rather than the fact that horses are using it? If horse-riders can use a footpath without damaging the surface (ie avoiding using it in wet weather etc) and have the permission of the landowner than I thought it was OK?

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Yes, sorry TGM, I think you are right there. Our tracks are all dirt tracks, therein lies the problem! However, we have been requested to not use them at ALL (this came from the Footpath person and YO) as even hoofmarks can lead to a complaint - maybe we just have really rigid rules! However it is 100% illegal to ride on footpaths according to our Council (in the rule book!).
 
Just found this on the Solihull Country Access FAQ:

Q: What can a landowner do on rights of way?
A: Property Rights: A right of way allows the public to pass over private land only along a fixed route, and the owner can also use this land for activities such as work or recreation. A typical example is when a footpath follows a private access road which is also used by a farmer for farm vehicles and by his children and their friends (with permission) for horse-riding.

Q: What can't I do?
A: Unauthorised Driving or Riding: You should not drive a motor vehicle on a footpath or bridleway, or ride a horse or cycle on a footpath, unless you have the express permission of the landowner. You should not drive off a right of way onto private or common land without the landowner's permission. It is not true that you may park anywhere within 15 yards of a road for action might be taken against you for trespass. Reckless or dangerous driving on any right of way, having regard to the nature, condition and use of it, is also an offence.

It is clear from this that you can ride on a public footpath IF you have permission from the landowner. However, if by doing so the path surface is damaged and made unsuitable for walkers, then the landowner can be prosecuted.
 
Thanks Hedgewitch, I can see your point
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.... BUT although i started the thread about selling danilon on ebay it was a query because i was not absolutely sure that it was illegal. I did email the seller to warn her it might be (very helpful if she had then delisted it and avoided being reported or prosecuted) but she chose to ignore the advice/suggestion that she may be wrong for listing it. The reporting of the sale came from another forum member, who is in full knowledge of the facts as to whether or not you can sell Prescription Only Medicine on ebay. So not really double standards as i didnt report her, more like equal risk as we both bend/break the rules to suit ourselves.
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However I am not selling potentially dangerous drugs that could get into the hands of some numpty that doesnt know dosage etc and could poison their horse. The worst i can do is leave hoofprints and a pile of poo to go with the tonnes of cow poo that they are willing to accept anyway.
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I've been on training excersises on MOD land which does not have rights of way across it, or permits issued to horse riders etc. You can imagine my surprise then, when I rounded a corner to find a couple of horses doing XC jumps over some 'jumps' which were actually camoflage used in our exercises. The horses were more shocked than the troops, and I actually had to take hold of one of the horses before the rider landed on her bum. I can imagine the MOD being liable, even those these individuals were technically trespassing on the land/ Maybe the reason it is for permit holders is that way the MOD can contact them about any exercises that may cause distress to the horses? On this particular training area we were permitted to use very small explosives - can you imagine the results if it were this, rather than us coming round the corner that unearthed the horses?
 
Glad that is the case - re riding on footpaths.

Another reason I asked was that a few years ago a Toll Ride was opened through someones woods and part of it went along a footpath. I often received abuse from dog walkers who said I wasn't allowed on the footpath with my horse, but I pointed out that this land also belonged to a farmer who was receiving payment for allowing riders to ride through his wood, and just because he was unfortunate enough to have a public footpath running through it, didn't mean he couldn't use if for the purpose of a Toll Ride. In the end, the council put up a sign stating the legal position - no more hassle!

That was over 10yrs ago now, so I didn't know if things had changed?
 
A public footpath may only be used by walkers. It may not be used by cyclists, horseriders or horse drawn vehicles.

However, if you have the permission of the land owner then you can use it, however it is the responsibility of the land owner to ensure that it can still be used by walkers.

If you want more bridleways in your area then why not contact your local BHS bridleway officer or even better join the local BHS County Committee and put some input in to developing a local network of bridleways.
 
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