Horses blocked from bridleway

Delta99 said:
This article is in the local paper this week:

"Horses will be prevented from traipsing down a bridle path after claims they were frightening children and dogwalkers. Kissing gates have been installed to stop horses and their riders using this path.....
... (councillor) added : 'It's good the gate has been done. We had numerous complaints from people walking down the bridle path to feed the ducks and also people with dogs. The horses coming down there were causing a problem. It makes it a lot safer for dog walkers and children.'
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Well based on some of the posts we've seen on here over the past few days I can't say I'm suprised.

Horses on a bridleway must be in control as it is a public area (obviously), and according to many who posted on one recent thread - many are not.

So unfortunately the repercussions are your bridle way gets closed.
 
Unless it has been officially downgraded to a footpath, that is illegal. Contact your County Council's Rights of Way Officer for the area and ask them to confirm the status of the path.
 
We lost a path that had been used by horses for over 50 years. It belonged to the MOD and due to 4x4 drivers and dog walkers continuing over the land, (where as horses just went up the side) and walking into a live fire area they fenced it off. It didn't help the attitude to people of low flying aircraft either.
On another note, yes horses should be under control when in public, but so should dogs, the dangerous dogs act applies to EVERY dog, not just certain breeds. I would sugest a rider who lost control due to being chased by someones out of control mutt would be able to counter sue.
The line is thin as to whether some paths are bridle or foot. Some are actually signed as one, and mapped as another.
 
zaminda said:
On another note, yes horses should be under control when in public, but so should dogs, the dangerous dogs act applies to EVERY dog, not just certain breeds.
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Agreed, but as it seems many riders have a problem meeting anything on a path (in control or not) I can't say I'm surprised - if this story is true.
 
This is so annoying, a massive part of our bridleway was closed off by a farmer who couldn't be bothered to put up a fence to seperate the cows from the bridleway, I called the council to complain and apparently he is allowed to do this if he gives a good enough reason. I'd call your local council's byways department and complain. I expect there were no horsey people on the board to support the horse riders side.
 
Had a reply from the local BHS person who also thinks this is a footpath that joins onto a bridleway so riders have been using it.

Passed on to the Bridleways officer for confirmation (looks like we have one after all :) )

Don't think they'll have much luck getting it reopened for horses but lovely to see that the BHS do take action.

Can only think of small private yards on that lane, might have to take a detour over the weekend to investigate... :)
 
If the public footpath part of this path has been ridden by horses for 20 years then it would be possible to apply for a change of status from public footpath to bridleway. Riders would need to complete an evidence form to demonstrate its use by horseriders.
 
SNORKEY said:
This is so annoying, a massive part of our bridleway was closed off by a farmer who couldn't be bothered to put up a fence to seperate the cows from the bridleway, I called the council to complain and apparently he is allowed to do this if he gives a good enough reason. I'd call your local council's byways department and complain. I expect there were no horsey people on the board to support the horse riders side.
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When we talk about a bridleway, we have to be sure it actually is a b/w. The way to be sure is to find out if it is named as such on the Definitive Map for that area. Whether it is used as a bridle path or even signed as a bridle path does not make it a legal right of way for horses, it has to be on the DM.
If the farmer has fenced off a b/w which is on the DM, the council are wrong to say the farmer is allowed to fence it off, whether he has a good reason or not, he is breaking the law if he has blocked a right of way.
Contact the local Rights of Way department and find out if it is a b/w. If it is, they will tell the farmer he must remove the fence or face legal action. If it is not a legal right of way, the farmer may have the right to fence it off.
Get those evidence forms filled in, and make an application to modify the definitive map. The application is to upgrade the footpath to bridleway on the grounds of current use by horse riders. Unfortunately, you cannot use the historical use now, the rules have changed but if there are enough current riders using it, you may be successful in getting the application accepted. You then have to hope there are no objections. If there are legitimate objections, it will have to go to the Secretary of State to decide on the outcome. Don't hold your breath tho, it takes a looong time.
Find out if they hold Rights of Way forums and/or surgeries in your area and if so why don't you attend and give the horse riders a voice? They are usually quite helpful and just have no idea about our problems as riders. BTW, I am a BHS Assistant Access and Bridleways Officer too and began by going to my local council RoW meetings about twelve years ago.
Good luck
 
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PeterNatt said:
If the public footpath part of this path has been ridden by horses for 20 years then it would be possible to apply for a change of status from public footpath to bridleway. Riders would need to complete an evidence form to demonstrate its use by horseriders.
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That of course can take up to 15 years to get through court, depending on your council and how much evidence there is and resistance. it's not just a case of getting the forms filled out and there you go. We even had our BHS bridleways officer with her horse being kept on our yard and she knew how to do everything. People do need to put in the time to help get the evidence and even interview those that have used it. Don't just leave it to the BHS help them to help you.
 
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Bridleway not a bridleway, whatever, looking past the barrier it looks like there is plenty of room for everyone, what's the problem, frightening children, rubbish, wherever I ride kids love to come up and ask to stroke my Pony and ask questions, what's missing from the article is what is "really" going on.

First thing to ask is how do people in a wheelchairs and disabled buggys get through ?

Enshrine of tools
 
We had a local farmer put up electric tape fencing right across a local bridleway. You could not have got through even if you wanted to!
I contacted the local council - they went down to the farm the following day.
They confirmed that the farmer had illegally obstructed a public right of way (and pointed out that most people would not appreciate being zapped) and asked him to remove it immediately (which he did).

I was hopping mad when I couldn't get through that day.

Farmers are not allowed to obstruct a public right of way at all - EVER.

However in this case...it seems that the bridleway they have obstructed is actually a footpath...so different senario.
Frustrating and disappointing to say the least.
 
One bridleway near me is unusable as the cows grazing it the field it passes through, chase the horses. I ended up losing my mare she pulled me over and then went through a barbed wire fence in panic. Ideas ? would the council make the farmer move them ?
 
Pedantic said:
Bridleway not a bridleway, whatever, looking past the barrier it looks like there is plenty of room for everyone, what's the problem, frightening children, rubbish, wherever I ride kids love to come up and ask to stroke my Pony and ask questions, what's missing from the article is what is "really" going on.

First thing to ask is how do people in a wheelchairs and disabled buggys get through ?

Enshrine of tools
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Agree entirely with this. Although we do get some hysterical mummies with pushchairs on our nearest bridle path (where our horses have been ridden for years and their little housies has been built in the last 5 years) who think that horses eat babies or some such nonsense, and God help you if your horse has a poo in sight of their precious babies, I find hysterical mummies really, really annoying.
 
skint1 said:
Agree entirely with this. Although we do get some hysterical mummies with pushchairs on our nearest bridle path (where our horses have been ridden for years and their little housies has been built in the last 5 years) who think that horses eat babies or some such nonsense, and God help you if your horse has a poo in sight of their precious babies, I find hysterical mummies really, really annoying.
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Presses like button.
 
It is not illegal to ride on a Public Footpath if you believe you have a right of way. That advice has come to me from our local BHS Access Officer. The difficult bit would be proving that and also you could be trespassing on private ground. We MUST all pursue our riding rights of way. We have a few of these issues locally in Cornwall, which despite one might think has great off road riding access, has few, particularly in our area of the North Coast.
You need to muster local support. We arranged a day in the local village hall, provided refreshments, got the word out as much as possible, and got as many modification forms signed as we could to try and keep open a historic right of way. We are still waiting for a result, but in the mean time we continue to ride it. We have had harassment from land owners but keep reporting to the police and council, hoping it will get pushed up the pile of importance.
we also have an issue with a historic right of way being closed to horses via a kissing gate. That's the next project. The problem was that it was closed due to irresponsible riders.
We also have a right of way obstructed by Badger Sets, and that is on the list too!
Try and get yourself a group of dedicated riders, go by the book, involve the council and the local BHS Access Officer. Try and keep things as amicable as possible with land owners.
Good luck and don't give up!!!
 
Pedantic said:
Bridleway not a bridleway, whatever, looking past the barrier it looks like there is plenty of room for everyone, what's the problem, frightening children, rubbish, wherever I ride kids love to come up and ask to stroke my Pony and ask questions, what's missing from the article is what is "really" going on.

First thing to ask is how do people in a wheelchairs and disabled buggys get through ?

Enshrine of tools
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I perfectly agree, it is very frustrating when you can see a lovely off road safe route that all users could enjoy, but if you want to legally be allowed to use it for generations to come, you have to go down the legal route. It is unfortunate, we get abuse if we ride on the roads and abuse if we ride on public paths. We even somethimes get abuse when we ride on bridleways:( and when we exercise our rights to legally claim a bridleway, you still get objections to overcome!
You have to be determined, calm and don't give up, fight for your paths!
If you don't get the applications in before 2022 (I think it is) the routes will be lost for ever because this is when the Definitive Maps will be updated, so if your route isn't on there by the deadline, you lose it!
 
Beausmate said:
Almost sounds like a case of sour grapes. Has a horsey person upset a council person somewhere along the line?

What happened about the plans to convert x number of miles of footpaths to bridleways? Maybe no-one told your local council.
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even if they had, were not allowed to let personal fueds come between our job and our personal lives. its a sackable affence. So ide be amazed if this is the case!
 
This is a bit of an off-track question, but I drive past a bridleway sign regularly pointing up a track. There is a cattlegrid right at the start of the track (directly beneath the bridleway sign, where the track meets the road). It's not near where I ride but I'm just wondering how it is like this as it is blatantly not accessible to horses?
 
HarlequinSer said:
This is a bit of an off-track question, but I drive past a bridleway sign regularly pointing up a track. There is a cattlegrid right at the start of the track (directly beneath the bridleway sign, where the track meets the road). It's not near where I ride but I'm just wondering how it is like this as it is blatantly not accessible to horses?
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Are you sure there's not a gate to the side?
 
Amymay, (can't quote as on my phone) no, no gate to the side, literally just a car-width track that meets the road with a cattlegrid on it, as far as I can see there's no way around it as there's pretty dense hedge on either side.
 
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