Bridleways e - petition

I don't know how true this is, but apparently when OS maps were created and farmers were asked if they had any footpaths/bridlepaths on their land a lot of farmers either said they had nothing or they had footpaths across their land when, in fact, they had bridleways....

This could be absolute cow manure but its a story I heard once.
 
Rather make excisting ones safer especially where busy roads bridges etc are involved and BOATS less rutty think as a farmer and rider, that to make bridleways of footpaths largely impracticable as have to be wider bridges stronger different styles gates and wouldn't want footpath where my horses are a bridleway plus devalue land.
 
It would be nice if they could put more horse friendly gates on some bridleways. Those weighted ones can be down right dangerous. The rider should have control on opening & closing & the weighted ones can take that away. You have to dismount at some & remounting from the ground is not good for the horse or saddle.
 
The statement about bridlepaths being put on the map as footpaths is true up to a point. It was in the 1949 review of the Definitive Map, when of course there were very few "leisure riders" most people who rode were hunting people.

It is true that some landowners made sure that no bridleways were recorded. It all depended on who was given the job by the local council to do the recording. That is why some parishes have lots of bridlepaths and some none/few.

If you seriously want to look into improving bridlepaths look at the Cross Trails Trust and see what they have done - 80 new bridlepaths. http://www.thetrailstrust.org.uk/

and don't for get Toll Rides -http://www.tollrides.org.uk/
 
Toll rides aren't perminant though and have to be paid for.
Personally I think they should put the inspectors on horses and make them ride the routes when they check them (possibly leading another horse;) )
And out of interest...try finding a driving route (and I don't mean a leisure one which is difficult enough but one that does a useful job like going from one village to another)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top