ARGH !!! Quad Bikes On Bridleways !?!?!? Nearly Had A Very Injured Horse !!

SS.89

SS.89

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OH MY DAYS ..... Time for a rant !!

I was having a lovely hack out today with my 3 year old TB and my mate who was on her mare, when tobe suddenly stopped dead as there were 4 quad bikes up ahead of us on the bridleway.
Now ok ... they didn't have their engines on but erm they shouldnt be there ?! My mate managed to get her mare to walk on and to our surprise these chavvy lads were accompinied my 2 stupid girls on their own horses having a good old mothers meeting with them.
Now ... my lad isn't too brave when it comes to new things so I sat him there for a bit to take it in whilst my friend walked her mare past them. I asked them to roll the bikes out the way as I would of had to go round them endangering my horse on a rabbit hole riddled verge. Would they move .... Not a chance.
So whilst the girls on their own horses were laughing their heads off at my poor man getting himself worked up I actually felt like slapping them all across the head with my whip.
To make it worse as I was tip toeing my horse over this verge one of these little T**Ts started their engine scaring the crap out of my mates horse who did a 180 spin back the other way.

Luckily someone had called the police from the neighbouring village as they'd been spotted a few miles back but its not gonna stop the little sods, and as for the girls on the horses

THEY SHOULD KNOW BETTER !!!

so so annoyed :(
 
OOoooohhh, I'd be so wild. You'd expect other horse riders to know better and to be more sympathetic to a horse being scared.

I'm not sure what the legal position is re. quad bikes, I know some bridleways are designated as "highways" which presumably means some vehicles are allowed on there? I encountered a guy on a moped on one here recently, dunno whether he should have been there or not though.

I'd be on the lookout for those bimbo girlies on their horses - the perfect revenge of course would be to see them out riding and let off one's car hooter mega-loud so their horses spooked and they'd know what it felt like (grrrrrggggghhhhh), BUT I guess one ought not to think in such revengeful ways????!!!! Seriously, there might be mileage in having a quiet word, if you do ever see them out hacking, to perhaps explain that your poor horse was really frightened and you felt put in danger by the quad bikers actions, and that as fellow horse riders you're sure they understand this and perhaps could have a word with the blokies, kind of thing, etc etc. (OK lets face it sometimes pigs do fly!!).

What an awful ride - spoilt by someone else's thoughtless and downright stupid/dangerous actions. Sharing your rant with you.
 
If this was an officially designated bridleway then they are most certainly not allowed to be on there. We are having a similar issue ourselves, where I live there is only one official bridleway and I am fortunate enough to stable my horse where I have direct access to it from our fields. Unfortunately it has recently been discovered by a load of off roaders on their dirt bikes. I have been advised by the local council rights of way dept that everytime I see them I should call the police. I haven't had the confidence to ride on our bridleway for a couple of months because I know I would have a complete nighmare on my boy if I was to encounter these idiots so I am resigned to hacking round the town and making upteen phone calls to the local pcso untill they can catch them. I would advise you to do the same! You do have my sympathies. x
 
We had a similar issue, kids on quad bikes. The police where called several times and it wasn't until the kids caused a serious accident (that could have been MUCH worse) that they stopped doing it.

Thing is, the kids were riding to the bridleways on country lanes, so for instance if they'd have caused an accident with a car, they wouldn't have been covered.

I would send letters to all local livery yards warning them of what happened, hopefully the letter will get back to the same yard the kids are on. Something mentioning that the police are looking for all involved... :D
 
Must be the day for it, i had idiots riding around the edge of my horses field (YO private land) i now have a very lame 5 yr old, and a 6 yr old in foal that is extremely distressed, and i could not get anywhere near them.
Finally did 5 hours later and checked them over but will have to wait till tomorrow to see the extent of the damage, hoping just a sprain and the other mare does not lose the foal
YO As usual did not give a flying, cant wait to move, all i want to know from her is who it was, as i would like to try (to not kill them) to explain the danger in doing that sort of thing, also if i end up with another huge vet bill i would like a contribution towards it
 
It happens all the time round here and probably is countrywide if a survey were done, I have called the police several times when they are racing at speed along bridlepaths and footpaths to no avail, only once did the police attend (surrey police) the land that is under the Met force didn't respond at all and I waited there for them over an hour on numerous occasions and then gave up as the people riding illegally on motorbikes had gone home for their tea!
So now, I just don't bother, no one seems to care.
I have stood up to the perpetrators on several occasions as well and have been ridden at, sworn at, threatened to have my head kicked in but I won't back down from the little scrotes.
I used to hold a ACU licence to ride off road (trials and enduro) and only ever practised in licenced areas, yet people seem to think it is their god given right to ride any motorised vehicle whether they are legal or not anywhere in the country they like.
We regularly have 2 lads on mini motos riding up and down our road, no baffles, no registration plates, no tax, no insurance, no driving licence,no helmets, no lights (in the dark!) not legal at all and they are about 15 years old, WILL the local plod do anything not on your nelly!
Why do we bother even reporting it?
Oz
 
It is illegal to use a motorised vehicle on a public footpath, bridleway or restricted byway. If a motorised vehicles is used on a public highway or byway which has motorised vehicular use then the vehicles must be taxed, insured, be roadworthy and the driver must have an appropriate license.
If police fail to take action then write to the chief constable of the area and hopefully they will then respond in future.
We had a particular problem in this area with motorbikes and quad bikes and the police managed to catch a number of them. They where warned that if they where caught again that their vehicles would be destroyed. (Word clearly got around) This solved the problem and we have had hardly any bikes or quad bikes for the last 3 years.
 
what tools! tbh if it'd been me and one of the girls i ride with she would have gone up and battered the little b****es! she smacks cars with whips and argues with ppl its scary! poor you tho, you should get those 'polite' tabards from tack shop, the dopey gits prob cant read and wouldn't realise it didnt say police and would cr@p themselves hahaha!! :D
 
i know of a girl who broke her back when her horse bolted from fast approaching off road bikes came from nowhere and spooked the horse on a bridleway :(

Only good thing that came out of it is all the bridleways on affected route now have moped gates on them with two planks so the horses can still get over
 
I had it with 6 motorbikes on a BOAT recently but no vehicles oct to april told footpath dept and police but they id nothing all we got abuse but as stated there recklessness could be very serious esp on young horse.
 
Round here the police seem to be surprisingly good about this!! :)

We have had kids on mini motos, quads etc in the fields behind our house and along the streets, but the police are very quick to act and see them off! I don't think I've seen any for over a year. The last lot, my OH phoned and the PCSOs were there within 10 mins!!
 
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