Argh overgrown bridleways

Troggy

Troggy

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4 February 2003
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Just had a rather interesting hack on the Toff beast. She was rather fresh today but manageable and had been trotting along some bridleways for about 30 mins when got to a bridge to cross (the usual railway sleeper type bridleway bridge). Well luckily I knew a bridge was there as it was so over grown the path actually lead you towards the rather large ditch! I hopped off to clear the bramble, teasels, nettles, thistles etc from our path, lead her over the ditch and went to get back on.....however there is a bridleway that runs parallel in the distance and there was a horse cantering up it.....I tried to get back on but she just kept spinning and rearing....then that was it, she was off
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Luckily this track backs on to the setaside fields behind our house so she popped the ditch and ran back to the yard (a fair distance), cue a hysterical phone call to poor old Mac who went and saw where she was an shut the gate.....After about 20 mins of walking through really thick grass (I'm knackered!) I got back! Got back on and took her for a canter around the same field and she was fine. What a morning! To top it all off she lost one of her Old Mac Boots so also had to spend an hour searching for that!!
Will attempt that hack again tomorrow or Monday (day off work, yay) but I am tempted to complain about the bridge as if I hadn't had to get off and clear it, none of the above would have happened.....(although knowing Toff she probably would have run off with me
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Most of the bridleways in that area are awful, very narrow and over grown. Hmph!

And it’s bloody freezing out there today!!
 
What a horrible ordeal for you! You must have been really cross, upset, worried, etc. Definitely complain to the local council about the paths anyhow. Good luck monday.
 
That about sums it up! For some reason things in the distance freak her out and it's was just really unfortunate I wasn't on her back (even had new hunting brakes in to test!!)
Thank you
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If you want to report it the Beds CC website was out of date (at least it was a few days ago) - the ROW officer for North Beds is now Adrian Fett. I can PM you his email address if you like. I had a chat with him last week & he seemed very useful.
 
Thanks
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It's just horrible stuff to walk on, I ran for as much as I could but nearly fell over as so tired so had to give up
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I was never good at cross country running!
Lovely to ride on though, very springy!
 
Does the bridleway run across the field or around the edges of it?

Why not report the overgrown bridleway and bridge to the access department of Bedfordshire County Council?

Write to them by 'Royal Mail Signed for Delivery' so that there is no doubt that they received your letter and keep a copy of your letter.

The address is:
Rights of Way Officer
Countryside Access Service
Bedfordshire County Council
County Hall
Cauldwell Street
Bedford
MK42 9AP
 
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