cantering on bridle path

MrsHutt

MrsHutt

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Yesterday two friends were out on our 'usual' ride through the woods, one of them was riding Hugo for me. They cantered up 'the long canter' as usual - everyone canters up there; it is the perfect length with a natural 'stop' at the top. When they were shouted at by a woman with a dog that it was illegal to canter on a bridle path!!

We have established that it was probably the woman who actually owns the wood (and therefore the path). Various people have been shouted at by her in the past, but I haven't heard that it's illegal to canter on a bridle path. Where are you supposed to do it then??! There are a couple of fields if you go the other direction, but on the usual routes there are a number of 'canters' built in to the rides - on bridle paths.

Any thoughts??
 
i didn't realise there was a law against cantering on bridleways. IF she owns the path then maybe she has enforced this 'law' herself and doesn't want it churned up, your better off contacting the local council and ask them to clarify that particular route.
 
As far as I'm aware, it's not "illegal" to canter anywhere! As long as you're polite and savvy enough to be on the lookout for horses coming the other way / dogs and their owners walking along / cyclists etc on an enclosed route, I really don't see how anyone can enforce a speed restriction on horses. Fair enough for a dog walker to get iffy if someone canters past them without warning, but I would always at least trot, if not walk, mostle in case the dog tried to follow (had an interesting indicent with a dog in a big open field once!)

I agree with riding_high - contact the council and ask them.
 
if its a proper bridleway then it isnt illegal to canter and horses have priority.

of course manners would dictate that if cantering and theres a blind bend or you see anyone coming walking or cycling etc then you would slow to a safer slower pace until well past them.

wonder if it is the effect on the ground she doesnt like, but again, if a proper bridleway then thats not relevant.
 
They did stop as soon as they saw her - I can understand that she might have been a bit scared as they are two big horses; the lead horse is 17hh + ridden by a very tall man, and Hugo a chunky 15hh2" (and looks more) on quite a narrow path. But they were very polite and didn't 'answer back' as I might have done! lol!

The ground is perfect and maintained very well. It's bone dry at the moment (a bit hard if anything) and when it is wet, people avoid it so as not to churn it up. She has nothing to complain about. Just a stroppy woman, I think!! ;)

I was surprised that she said it was 'illegal' - I have never heard of such a thing?!?
 
Probably a word that sprang to her mind that she thought would give weight to her wish!

We cantered up a bridlepath yesterday. Four horses. All under control. Passed a chap, who was on the tarmac section (we were on the grass verge section). He had his dog on a lead and was holding said dog 'till we'd passed him. We all said Thank you! and he smiled and all was good.

It's all about being polite and courteous to each other really.

Another dog walker held their dogs as we went past, but then when we were well past them, the dogs came running up. First thing we knew, the pony that had been at the back, shot forwards, we all turned, I saw the dogs, yelled "Dogs!" and we were about to turn the two big horses on them (adults on), but the dogs turned and ran. We have ridden together a lot and know what we need to do and when :cool:

Sorry OP, slightly off track!
 
AFAIA, there is no law on what pace you travel at on a bridleway, you just have to be in 'reasonable control'.

I found this out a few years ago when a landowner shouted at me for cantering on a bridleway through his ground, and no, the ground was not wet so there was no danger of cutting it up! I think some landowners just resent having rights of way through there ground.
 
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