BRIDLEPATH CROSSES FIELD WITH HORSES IN ...

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Cocorules

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Part of a local bridlepath runs through a field which has horses in it. The bridlepath is not fenced off from the horses, so if you ride through it you attract the attention of the horses in the field and get well and truly harrassed by them. Several local riders have fallen off.

A local ranger has spoken to the landowner but they are not interested in putting back up a fence which used to separate the animals from the bridlepath. It has been down for 20 years, but it is only recent years that horses have been kept in this field.

The landowner is friends with the council's rights of way officer and has too many connections with the local authority so it is very hard to get them to press him to do anything. The landowner is worried about claims against him. To date the accidents have not caused major injury. However, it is only a matter of time.

It is causing very bad feeling. Any suggestions as to how to deal with this?
 
Cocorules said:
Part of a local bridlepath runs through a field which has horses in it. The bridlepath is not fenced off from the horses, so if you ride through it you attract the attention of the horses in the field and get well and truly harrassed by them. Several local riders have fallen off.

A local ranger has spoken to the landowner but they are not interested in putting back up a fence which used to separate the animals from the bridlepath. It has been down for 20 years, but it is only recent years that horses have been kept in this field.

The landowner is friends with the council's rights of way officer and has too many connections with the local authority so it is very hard to get them to press him to do anything. The landowner is worried about claims against him. To date the accidents have not caused major injury. However, it is only a matter of time.

It is causing very bad feeling. Any suggestions as to how to deal with this?
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Well if he`s worried about claims he ought to do something about it?
I thought landowners were required to keep bridlepaths clear and safe?
Afraid I dont know much about it, I`m currently at war with my council as there is not one bridleway in my area
 
How do you get into and out of the field without his horses getting out? The amount of money he could loose if a preventable accident (that's reported/claimed against) occurs will most likely be more than it would cost to put up a fence.
 
There is a gate at either end of the part of the bridlepath that crosses the field. People can get in and out reasonably easily (unless the horses are right next to the gate). It is a large field with lots of trees - so unless you know they are there you can easily get lulled into thinking there are no horses there until they come galloping across the field!

The horses have got out due to someone leaving a gate open before now, but they have to go someway before they get to a road, so there has been no injury to them. The landowner is totally disinterested in the horses and the owners of the horses are not going to move them - cheap livery and good local riding - certain amount of disinterest on their part.

Fencing would be cheaper than a claim following an accident, but really don't want that to happen to anyone.

Not keen on upsetting the landowner - quite understand he wants to do what he wants with his land, but also want people to be safe crossing it which they have the right to do.

Think I will phone the BHS and ask who their local rights of way officer is and see if they have any advice.
 
Can he not just put rods along the stretch of bridlepath with electric tape on it? It doesn't have to have a charge, just there to keep the horses away from anyone using the path. It would be alot cheaper than post and rail or similar.
 
I have a field with a bridle path through it and it is not fenced off. It was but no one wanted to keep the path clear and trimming the hedge was nigh impossible so when mains water pipes went through the field and the fence was taken down it remained down.
I usually only keep the mares and foals out there because they will keep away from other horses, or the sheep. I would not put the youngsters out there because they would crowd other horses.

I doubt if there is anything that could be done if there were an accident as it is the riders choice to go across the field when there are horses in there.
 
Are the horses aggressive?

In the Rights of Way Guide, under landowner responsibilities it states:

"never keep any animal which is known to be aggressive in a field to which the
public has access"
 
Foxhunter49 said:
I doubt if there is anything that could be done if there were an accident as it is the riders choice to go across the field when there are horses in there.
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It is the riders' rite to go across the field, and it was long before his horses were there. It is the landowner's responsibility to allow them to enjoy this rite safely. If there were an accident there would be things done and the landowner could be liable for damages. The point is, people like to do something about these situations before things reach that stage.
 
All the landowner has to do to avoid liability for a rider accident is to put a sign on each gate saying Loose Horses...then a rider can choose whether to use it or not.

I think what we have to remember is that it is a public right of way over private land and while we are entitled to use it the landowner also has the right to use it as he sees fit as long as he doesn't block it.

PROW were never designed or meant to be detrimental to the actual owner of the land they cross...or cost them an absolute fortune to allow others to use their property!
 
Foxhunter49 said:
I have a field with a bridle path through it and it is not fenced off. It was but no one wanted to keep the path clear and trimming the hedge was nigh impossible so when mains water pipes went through the field and the fence was taken down it remained down.
I usually only keep the mares and foals out there because they will keep away from other horses, or the sheep. I would not put the youngsters out there because they would crowd other horses.

I doubt if there is anything that could be done if there were an accident as it is the riders choice to go across the field when there are horses in there.
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Sorry but you are very wrong - if your animals cause injury to another animal or persons you are fully liable ( well the landowner is )
 
Thanks for the comments. It is hard that the cost falls wholly on the landowner. This is something where the public really do benefit (tourists and locals - it is well used) and if the public purse could afford it, it would seem fairer for it to come from that or from a toll. That said all the other landowners along the same bridlepath do fence off (including me).

The current horses are not aggressive they just come across the field at full tilt and crowd round riders to the extent that you cannot go forward, backwards or sideways. There is one particular one that goes in for trying to nose squeal and strikes out with its front leg. They have occasionally crowded around walkers (and one particular incident involved walkers with a pushchair). There are two further horses that are in this field as well during the winter (kept in a different field during the summer) and they are huge and aggressive.

It is just that there have been a spate of incidents recently. We really need a solution before someone gets hurt and preferably without everyone getting upset and falling out permanently.

Those that know about the problem do tend to avoid the bridlepath, but there are few enough bridlepaths about without losing one this way especially as it gives access to some really good riding.
 
Have you got a local bridleways association? They tend to know their stuff, so worth a call to them.
 
If the horses in the field are cassing a problem then you can ask the Access Department of yout local County Council to use the Enviromental Bill (as ammended) to compel the landowner to keep the horses well away from route of the bridleway.

I would suggest that in the first instance you write to the Access Department sending your letter by Royal Mail Signed for Delivery so that there is no doubt that they have received your letter. Get as many other riders that have had a problem to write in as well.
 
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