how try to have footpath changed to bridlepath?

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Perce

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There is a footpath near us which would allow horses to reach the end of another public track and avoid either a very long round route or riding on a busy, dangerous road.

Obviously one step in what I am sure would be a very long process, would be to talk to the landowner/s, but does anyone else have experience of working to upgrade a footpath to a bridleway? HOw did you go about it? Any advice, tips?
The footpath now travels along a farm drive and the down the side of a field and out onto the village lane through a fairly new metal foot access 'gate'. I can't remember what the type is called, but it is not possible for a horse to use so this would need changing too.

any advice suggestions hugely welcome.
 
I don't know about changing the use of it but I have heard that if the landowner gives you permission you can ride on it regardless of if its footpath or bridleway. The change of status officially is to make it for anyone to use, but if its only you who wants to it might be easier to just ask the landowner like that :)
 
Contact your Parish Council, they should have a Rights of Way person who may help.
Also do you have a local Bridleways association?
The BHS may help.
I'm pretty sure the landownner won't help! But he/she may be very generous, if you asked them if you could ride on it they might just say yes.
 
only problem is the footpath at the village end has a this pedestrian gate next to a padlocked farm gate so impossible to ride through without unlocking big gate...and I can't see the landowner being willing to do that. May have to get brave enough to see if I can speak to landowner. but ....
 
I'd speak to the landowner and maybe offer a financial incentive for him to allow you to ride on the land. You may have to agree to ride at a particular speed/not during certain times of year/etc but if you don't ask, you'll never know.

We have a toll ride system where I am where each rider pays £5.50 a month to a central organisation that then splits the money between a bunch of farmers who allow toll ride members to ride the borders of their fields. In exchange for the money, they keep a 2m wide border clear and maintained for us to ride along - however stray off that border and into the crops and you can get banned!
 
There's no way to force the landowner to do it. It will depend entirely on whether they are willing to do it. Most are not, altho this is often more to do with the issues surrounding the fact that allowing enough space for horse access by itself increases the risk of such nightmares as flytippers getting in, trail motorbikes roaring thorough etc, also walkers sometimes oppose as they want to keep it to themselves and also worry about damage to the path. Realistically horse tracks need more upkeep through fields than footpaths sometimes and the walkers will start moaning to the landowner about the mud on their sandals ...:-(((

I would start by getting to know the landowner and seeing if it is possible to have a key to the gate and ride through, maybe in exchange for helping them in some way. They can certainly give you permission for that without creating a bridleway. However don't feel bad if they say no, they might just want to avoid walkers moaning or worry the key will get copied numerous times.
 
The first thing to do is to contact the Definitive Map Officer at you local County Council and determine the true status of the path concerned. i.e. Is it in fact of Public Footpath on the Definitive Map. (The Definitive Map is the document held by the local authority which shows the true status of all tracks in their area).

If it is only of Public Footpath Status then the next stage is to get some historic research carried out to determine if it was used by horses etc. in the past. Your local County British Horse Society Access Officer will be able to assist you in doing this. It may well be that historic research shows it to be a track of higher status i.e bridleway/byway in which case a modification order can then be applied for a change in status.

In any event if you are interested in more off road riding in your area I would suggest that you joint the BHS who are the only national organisation that represent horse riders and then also join your local BHS County Committee as this will give you the opportunity of developing new off road riding in your area.

www.bhs.org.uk

I hope this helps but if you require any further info please don't hesitate to contact me directly by E-mail on peter.natt@btinternet.com

Peter Natt BHS Access Officer North Hertfordshire
 
lachlanandmarcus said:
I would start by getting to know the landowner and seeing if it is possible to have a key to the gate and ride through, maybe in exchange for helping them in some way. They can certainly give you permission for that without creating a bridleway.
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echo do that first. Landowner may be more than happy to give you a key to the padlock esp if he/she knows that you're going to ride responsibly, not gallop when it's wet or past walkers or churn it up, that you've got 3rd party liability for yourself and your horse.

I have a key to a local farmer's track by private arrangement with him. Nice bottle of his favourite wine at christmas.
 
thanks for suggestions. Will look into it. It is only through one field and then along a fairly short track that goes from the road to the farm, but would allow a much longer track to be accessed. I'll find out about ownership and go from there.
 
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