Horses on Footpaths

[Courbette]

I generally do the same hacking route every week. Boring but it is the only car free route I know in an area with quite frankly bonkers drivers. I got adventurous tonight and followed the bridepath beyond my usual route and was faced with following the bridlepath signs down a busy road or turning off down a choice of two very accessible looking footpaths. A couple of years ago I’d have gone down the footpaths without a second thought but i’m a bit more cautious now 😂

My question is can you ride horses on some footpaths (I’m sure I have read you can) and if so how do you know if it allowed for a particular footpath?

 

[criso]

No you can't

https://www.gov.uk/right-of-way-open-access-land/use-public-rights-of-way


Definitions are as follows

• footpaths - for walking, running, mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs
• bridleways - for walking, horse riding, bicycles, mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs
• restricted byways - for any transport without a motor and mobility scooters or powered wheelchairs
• byways open to all traffic - for any kind of transport, including cars (but they’re mainly used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders)

 

[bonny]

I generally do the same hacking route every week. Boring but it is the only car free route I know in an area with quite frankly bonkers drivers. I got adventurous tonight and followed the bridepath beyond my usual route and was faced with following the bridlepath signs down a busy road or turning off down a choice of two very accessible looking footpaths. A couple of years ago I’d have gone down the footpaths without a second thought but i’m a bit more cautious now 😂

My question is can you ride horses on some footpaths (I’m sure I have read you can) and if so how do you know if it allowed for a particular footpath?

Faced with that choice I would just use the footpath but only walk in case you meet other users.

 

[planete]

I would get off and lead the horse on the footpath that one time but not use that route again.

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

Are you suuuuure its a footpath? I went on my local council website & was pleasantly surprised to see quite a few routes which to me looked like footpaths, were actually byways of some sort! Which opened up loads of routes for me. Most routes are clearly marked as bridleways so assumed all unmarked routes were footpaths only for a long time - pays to do a bit of digging

 

[DabDab]

No, officially you can't go down a footpath on a horse. I do very occasionally go on short sections of paths I know don't really get used, but only because around here most bridlepaths don't go to or from anything else - just a random stretch of bridlepath in the middle of a wood or similar.

 

[Courbette]

Are you suuuuure its a footpath?

Unfortunately yes. All 3 routes were very clearly marked and going in slightly different directions. I think I must of got confused with byways. I’ll still see if their is any extra information on the councils website.

It looks like there is a section of roadwork to pick up the bridleway but the route brought me out at traffic lights on a bridge over the river. There was a narrow bridge not open to traffic but quite scary looking and then the road option was single file over the main bridge with lights controlling the flow on a bend at the bottom of the hill! Not for the faint hearted! I’ll have to see if I can find out if anybody else from my yard uses that route and which option they take over the river. Think i’ll try it on foot first.

I used to be very confident hacking on the roads but these roads are busier than i’m used to and the horse doesn’t belong to me.

 

[The-Bookworm]

We have footpaths clearly marked as such.

I found this online-
A footpath is defined as a highway ‘over which the public has a right of way on foot only’, so horse riders are restricted to bridleways and byways.
It’s not a criminal offence for a horse to be ridden along a footpath, but it is potentially an act of trespass against the landowner, civil offence. If the horse rider has permission to be there then there is no trespass, but if no permission has been given then the landowner is entitled to order the rider off the land and can also sue for any damages caused.

So ask the owner of the land if you may lead on it.

Just to add when one of my routes meant it put me out onto a road with heavy traffic I rode on the pavement. I was passed by the police and they smiled and carried on. I am not suggesting for one second we all go off riding on the pavement, but sometimes you make a decision based on what is safer for you, and since it's not a criminal offence they didn't bother me either.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

You don't need to ask the landowner if you may lead on it, you just dismount and lead the horse along.

 

[meleeka]

Just to add when one of my routes meant it put me out onto a road with heavy traffic I rode on the pavement. I was passed by the police and they smiled and carried on. I am not suggesting for one second we all go off riding on the pavement, but sometimes you make a decision based on what is safer for you, and since it's not a criminal offence they didn't bother me either.

My yard used to be on a main road. Riding on the road would have caused huge holdups, not to mention an accident so we always used to ride on the pavement. Nobody ever got stopped by the police for doing so.

 

[Gloi]

Have a good look at the ground and see if other horses have been using it and if so well you thought it was okay.

 

[oldie48]

I used to teach and examine for the PC riding and road safety badge so know a little about it. Horses should not be on the pavement but I have to admit that on one of my hacking routes on quite a busy road, there is a nasty bend with double white lines, the pavement veers off to the left and is separated from the road by a fairly wide area of grass which slopes down. I do use this as I can see well ahead and I can get off the pavement if I see someone coming towards me. I would not normally use a pavement as it encourages traffic to pass too quickly and tbh if something startled my horse so I ended up in the road in front of a car, I would be totally to blame. I personally feel it is safer to ride on the road with hi viz and not to get too close in so traffic have to slow down and if there are two of you to ride two abreast with the more confident horse on the otside.

 

[Courbette]

Have a good look at the ground and see if other horses have been using it and if so well you thought it was okay.

There have been quite a few accidents and a fatality on the local roads near my yard so unfortunately not many people do hack out with the exception of the one off road route that’s available. I’ve been on the yard 12 months and been reluctant to go on the roads because of this and also because my horse is on part loan rather than belonging to me. Is such as shame as the yard is on the edge of the Peak District and there is no safe way to get to it without transport. I’m fine hoping on the pavement in an emergency or for a short stretch if it is safe to do so but suspect the roadwork extends for 5-10 mins. I think an explore on foot might be my best option.

 

[SamBean]

There's 2 footpaths near me which were downgraded from bridleways, although they are still marked as footpaths an application has been accepted and approved to upgrade back to bridleways and are legal and permitted to ride on. The hunt must also use them as a part of a wall has been turned into a jump. Check the definitive map for your area, look on the council website to see if there are any applications in place and can also ask local bridleways group. BHS website has a list in your area too of applications made.

 

[Courbette]

There's 2 footpaths near me which were downgraded from bridleways, although they are still marked as footpaths an application has been accepted and approved to upgrade back to bridleways and are legal and permitted to ride on. The hunt must also use them as a part of a wall has been turned into a jump. Check the definitive map for your area, look on the council website to see if there are any applications in place and can also ask local bridleways group. BHS website has a list in your area too of applications made.

Thanks! Great advice 😊 I’m on the Pennine Bridleway. Unfortunately my yard is in the middle of an unfinished section 😭

 

[Rowreach]

In the old days we sat down with OS maps spread on the table and worked out routes that way, since everything is clearly differentiated as to the type of highway/byway. I still do that now, and then take pics on my phone (find that easier to look at and zoom in on than map apps) when I go walking.

If in doubt about a path's accessibility we'd nip out in the car and walk stretches, complete with a pair of shears, to make sure we could fit a horse through.

 

[SamBean]

There's a Pennine Bridleway group on Facebook, I'd ask on there as sure someone on there could help and may know a way around. Also try Horse Access Campaign UK, Peak Horse Power Bridleway Group and Dark Peak Bridleways Association.

 

[vhf]

You don't need to ask the landowner if you may lead on it, you just dismount and lead the horse along.

I have heard that it is completely legal and acceptable to lead a horse on a footpath, just not to ride one on one. I vaguely remember looking it up at the time, but I can't remember where now!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I have heard that it is completely legal and acceptable to lead a horse on a footpath, just not to ride one on one. I vaguely remember looking it up at the time, but I can't remember where now!

If you are on foot, there is no problem! Of course you can't lead at a pace faster than a walk, many pedestrians object to having horses cantering past them, even on bridleways.

 

[Darbs]

We regularly ride horses on a bridleway loop where the last section is a little used footpath that then rejoins the bridelway to make a complete loop. Local horse riders have been doing it for years, we just carry on until someone says stop. (You could also plead that you got lost and were looking for the bridleway!)

 

[vhf]

If you are on foot, there is no problem! Of course you can't lead at a pace faster than a walk, many pedestrians object to having horses cantering past them, even on bridleways.

Can't say I'd blame them!! Having a horse thundering up behind/towards you is pretty alarming even when you're used to them.

 

[Kezzabell2]

the lane that goes through my farm is a footpath but has always been used by horses. i couldn't leave the yard without going down it. all other horse/riders in the village use it

but i wouldn't ride on a footpath that I don't know, as you never know when you might get to a gate or a stile and would have to turn around and go back to where you came from

 

[Dollbird]

I believe you may ride on a footpath, if the landowner gives their permission for you to be there. Obviously riding with care and at a speed appropriate for visability.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I believe you may ride on a footpath, if the landowner gives their permission for you to be there. Obviously riding with care and at a speed appropriate for visability.

That is a different matter altogether. With permission you can ride anywhere.

 

[Peter7917]

I would just ride on it. Who is going to be there to police it? Nobody. Have fun, live a little, take some risks.

 

[Dollbird]

That is a different matter altogether. With permission you can ride anywhere.

I should have made myself clearer. OP, I suggest maybe finding out who the land owner is, and asking permission to ride on said footpath. Be very careful riding on land without permission, it can have consequences re insurance should something go wrong.

 

[Dollbird]

I would just ride on it. Who is going to be there to police it? Nobody. Have fun, live a little, take some risks.

And it's that attitude, that gives horse riders a bad rep. With land owners.

 

[pixie]

I certainly wouldn't be happy if someone were riding on our footpaths. Just because we have horses doesn't mean we'd let it slide. Thre are plenty of places on our land that I don't even ride.
OP: If you can get permission from the landowner then ride away, otherwise I would keep clear.

 

[oldie48]

And it's that attitude, that gives horse riders a bad rep. With land owners.

Absolutely. I am very friendly with my local farmer who has tracks round his fields which he makes available to the hunt. He'd happily let me ride on them except he knows if I am seen riding there others will use them too and he doesn't want that as for part of the year there are pheasants. such a shame but I can see his point!

 

[Clodagh]

Absolutely. I am very friendly with my local farmer who has tracks round his fields which he makes available to the hunt. He'd happily let me ride on them except he knows if I am seen riding there others will use them too and he doesn't want that as for part of the year there are pheasants. such a shame but I can see his point!

The same reason we don't allow any horses on ours. In winter I wouldn't be riding on our field margins and other trespassers would be.
Gloi's advice is so bad and part of the reason landowners ban horse riders, because they act entitled and superior.