Clean up after your horse...

Another dissenting voice here. If I see horse dung in the new estate's cul-de-sac (brick Lego road) where the children play football and ride bikes outside their houses, or on the pavement anywhere in the village, or on the part of the bridleway that runs through the guided bus "station" area, then I pick it up and remove it. I also put a short note in the village newsletter once a year saying if any residents are bothered by a horsepoo, phone me on my mobile and I'll come and pick it up.
Keeps the complaints about horses to a minimum, fosters good community relations.
Not everyone is into horses.
 
I'm finding it increasingly hard to believe that the BHS have issued such guidance and such a letter. If it weren't for the insurance I would be resigning my membership right now. They are supposed to support equestrians not batter them over the head with ridiculous 'guidance' that quite frankly is a load of horse *****.

Dog owners have to pick up what their pets leave behind because of a parasite (toxocara canis) that can affect the sight of children, even causing blindness, if they come into contact with it. Horse poo does not carry this risk and soon degrades naturally.
 
Dog mess contaians toxecara canis (or similar) which can result in blindness..in comparison to motorist fumes as well horse poo is harmless.

I live in a village surrounded by yards both private and livery but do I ever see droppings No (very very very very very rarely) why? because within moments a car or several will drive over it and it becomes a mark on the roadbarely noticeable until it rains at which point it is never seen again.
 
There were four yards on the road where I used to keep my horse and I hardly ever saw poo on it. I bet these same idiots who insist we clean up wouldn't DARE approach a mounted police officer and demand the same of them, there and then!
 
Well, I think that everyone should get off & sweep it up immediately because... my horse is scared of flat poos! Heaped ones - no problem; flat ones... work of the devil. Lots of snorting, sideways looks & very wide berth. Even if it's his own poo that he did on the way out.

Ho hum, the unfathomable workings of the TB brain...!

T x
 
Does that mean he is very careful about not lying in them in his stable ;).

I have ridden round everything from housing estates in town to the wilds of rural wiltshire. I have never once considered picking a poo up from the side of the road. I'm not sure how far the BHS intend me to kick it if there is a succession of driveways :p. TBF I usually get the slow walk warning anyway ;).
 
So you get off your "amenable" horse, and kick the poo into the gutter, hoping that while you are concentrating on that, said amenable horse doesn't sidestep into the road, barge someone on the pavement, kick a passing car, or get loose......... then, you get back on. Hmm. No problem for me on my 14.3 (on a good day), but I'd struggle to get on anything bigger. So what then?

This could surely never become legislation? And if it did, how long until someone was killed, either by a loose horse, a distracted driver, whatever? I've never heard anything so ridiculous.
 
I rode Ned out today and he did a dropping. I rode past the same spot about 1hr 30mins later and it was almost gone. It's a quiet lane, so must have only been run over a handful of times.
 
Landcruiser said:
So you get off your "amenable" horse, and kick the poo into the gutter, hoping that while you are concentrating on that, said amenable horse doesn't sidestep into the road, barge someone on the pavement, kick a passing car, or get loose......... then, you get back on. Hmm. No problem for me on my 14.3 (on a good day), but I'd struggle to get on anything bigger. So what then?

This could surely never become legislation? And if it did, how long until someone was killed, either by a loose horse, a distracted driver, whatever? I've never heard anything so ridiculous.
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Quite. I've just come back from a carriage ride, and trust me, it's quite difficult enough with both hands on the reins and my bottom firmly on the box seat. Quite how is a driver is supposed to maintain control of the horse on a highway whilst clanking around behind the (unattended) vehicle with a bucket and shovel?

Oh, I've got it. I can unhitch, and park the vehicle in the road, whilst I lead the horse to the poo (taking care that he doesn't step on a trace, or the collar fall down his neck). I should be able to do that with one hand using the driving reins (all 15ft of them), whilst I shovel with the other, right?

Now, how about a pair or team...
 
Can you please let me have a copy of this letter as I would like to take the matter up with the chief executive of the BHS. Please P.M. me with details.
 
Thank you all for your comments on the above. We'd like to clarify a few points, which will hopefully reassure.

In 2013, off the back of a specific local issue, a letter was sent by the Nation Director for Scotland to centres discussing local problems with dung on a pavement, which had been causing problems for residents (including those in nearby sheltered housing accommodation, many of whom were wheelchair users). It acknowledged that centres and clients were known to take responsible access seriously. The intention was a friendly, polite reminder that if a rider/driver can move droppings away from entrances or paths, it's simply courteous towards others to try to do so (either at the time or later). Trying to move droppings to one side - where possible - can help engender good local relations, which in turn lessens the risk to equestrian access.

The letter emphasised the reason why riders/drivers may where possible attempt to move fresh droppings away from entrances, carriageways and the middle of paths - namely courtesy and responsible access. Everyone using a path or road has a duty to behave courteously towards each other. When fresh horse droppings are left in the middle of a path or other access, this can present difficulty for user groups like wheelchair users, cyclists or those with buggies among others - all of whom should have the same right as an equestrian to be there and to use the route freely and easily.

What we're also at pains to emphasise is at no point has the BHS lobbied for or even suggested that this should become law, and riders/drivers should only ever attempt to move dung out of the way if it is safe and possible for them to do so. Obviously, we'd never advise any rider/driver to carry any kind of tools or to jump off immediately to move every dropping regardless of circumstances. At no point has anyone been under any illusion or had any expectation that this will be possible for every rider/driver at all times.

On a slight tangent, regarding the mention of Rights of Way closures - Rights of Way have indeed been lost in recent years, to the detriment of equestrians in many areas. Rather than simply watching this happen, the BHS has been working hard to try to prevent it wherever possible - and in doing so, has stopped the loss of many more and even opened new routes (check out how much our Access Team accomplished just last year at www.bhs.org.uk/our-charity/press-centre/news/july-to-dec-2014/bhs-2014-achievements-round-up-summary). The problem is that we can't do everything alone, and the dangers of a 2026 cut-off date for recording routes mean more than ever that access issues are something every equestrian needs to be aware of and involved in as far as possible to prevent more losses in their local areas. Please do take a look at what 2026 may mean for you and see why your help is so vital at www.bhs.org.uk/2026.

We're always on hand to help and answer any questions on matters like this, particularly where it can prevent any misunderstandings spiralling! As said, we hope that clears things up (if you'll pardon the pun! :)) and alleviates any major concerns.
 
Easy to lose hacking on a Public Road - your local Highways Authority just reclassify what was shown on the Definitive Map as an Unclassified Road (white road) to a Public Footpath. Voila, instantly only public access is for walkers. The landowners/residents can continue to use it by whatever means.

It happens. It's happened in Cambridgeshire.
 
Suechoccy said:
Easy to lose hacking on a Public Road - your local Highways Authority just reclassify what was shown on the Definitive Map as an Unclassified Road (white road) to a Public Footpath. Voila, instantly only public access is for walkers. The landowners/residents can continue to use it by whatever means.

It happens. It's happened in Cambridgeshire.
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We have the right to roam act in Scotland. I'm going to read this letter again tomorrow and get back regarding the points made by the BHS.
 
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