Open gate = Open invitation

trendybraincell

trendybraincell

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We were chatting about some new gallops that have appeared not far from our yard, they are for hire but one of our liveries was not overly impressed with the quality and said they wouldn't pay for them when there are open fields instead.

Asking for more info, I discovered the livery uses two fields which have no gates, they also have no signs stating riders can use them, and we do not know who owns them and whether we are actually allowed to use them.

Personally I wouldn't use them without knowing who owns them and whether we have permission, am I being really square? Does no gate mean open access?
 
OOh gallops, did I hear the words local and gallops?

Now 99% I wouldn't just go into anybodys field however I was cooling off Lacey after schooling tonight along the concrete track (which is a bridlepath) through nextdoors fields and Lacey decided she wanted to go right, along the side of a corn field which has a track and into a nice open field. I felt naughty (I'm a square aswell) but it didn't do any harm and the fields belong to nextdoor, I wouldn't just do it in anybodys fields.
 
yes MB you heard right...local and gallops in the same sentence.

Apparently its up Golden Valley Lane somewhere, not exactly sure where, I will get someone to take me up there and let you know what its like. Also they've said they may be putting XC jumps on at some point too.

Off topic...I spoke to my YO about another dressage clinic with a few extra spaces, for you and Fi...interested?
 
I have to say when i was a silly teenager i did used to go on any open fields, including school fields if they left the gate open. I always stuck to the edges, but it's still wrong. I do have to use all my willpower to resist these days, but i haven't been on a field without a bridlepath through it for several years. We hack through lots of golf courses where the bridleway cuts through, and all that perfect springy grass is so tempting! It's just cruel to have to walk along quietly next to it and not be able to step a foot onto it. Luckily we have a big hilly field i can gallop in though so i can let out my held in frustration without causing harm lol. :D
 
I am a silly teenager! But I am also quite square. I have done it twice, I felt terribly guilty both times, but had fun. Once it was on stubble, so I didn't have to feel bad, they were only ploughing it up again, I still felt guilty and slightly like a fugitive! The second time it was across a sheep field that is by my house, we have permission to walk there and I often see the farmer and have a chat, he's a lovely guy and would probably have no problem with it if I asked, but I had never seen the gate open before and I waqs very tempted so in I went.

I thought I heard a quad bike coming up the field and have never done it since! I must ask if it would be ok.
 
I have an open drive, don't mean anyone can come gallop up it!

Whilst I know folks who do do such things, I think it's much better to find the owner and ask them nicely if one may go around the edges :D :D :D.
 
i have asked and been told certain fields im allowed in but didnt like the ground as it was really uneven and couldnt trot even so i dont use them
never go in fields unless i ask as someone i know used to ride in fields without permission for ages and once she got caught and got in alot of trouble with the farmer although he now lets us go in a field when its unused :D
 
Yes its a monday, my instructor has mondays off and I've got the week off too, so makes organising easier :) I'm also thinking to trying to organise a clear round jumping evening, but we'll see how things go.

Sorry everyone, TOTALLY off topic :D back to the gate/field conversation

I just don't think its right, you're trespassing, you have no idea what could be in the field etc
 
I am incredibly lucky in that I have permission for the majority of the fields round here (wooo for being a very country girl, with a lot of farmers daughters as friends!!) so round here 70% of the time open gate = open invitation

For the others, I don't dare, farmers can be scary and I don't like getting on the wrong side of them. However if I ever see one working on the land I tend to go over to them and ask them if I am allowed to ride on their land. I have never yet been told no, though I always clearly say I will only ride on the grassy tractor tracks at the side or in stubble, anywhere else is no go!
 
I suppose its similar to the old argument that if you left your garden gate open would you mind if a load of strangers came trampling through?

Also, pretty certain that the farmers get a payment (Single farm payment?) based on the ground they are not using (eg those inviting wide strips round the edge of the fields) but if the land they are claiming for is used more than infrequently (walking/riding/driving, even as access for farmer to another field) they run the risk of loosing the payment.
 
Personally I wouldn't go into a field that I did not have permission to go in, but I know of people who do.

You know I'm interested in the clinic. ;) I'll drive down Golden Valley Lane on Saturday morning to see if I can spot these gallops! Would be FAB for Genie! (And might get the Welsh Cob doing more than a medium canter!!!)
 
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