Riding Access (Gates and Cattle)

[lizijj]

Hi, does anyone have any experience of the following:
we have a public road in our Parish that has four gates along it. All impossible to open from horseback. The road also runs through three fields where cattle graze but are not fenced off from the road. It is not common land.

Any advice or experiences gratefully received

 

[Littlelegs]

I don't think gates have to be able to be opened from horseback, & I'm positive cattle don't have to be fenced off from a path. I could be wrong but I'm sure its all within the law.

 

[PeterNatt]

You state that this is a public road in which case gates can not be placed accross a public road. So I assume it is a public right of way such as a Bridleway, Byway or White Lane. If it was a public right of way then riders should be able to open the gates from horseback. Please contact the access department of your County Council and advise them of the issue. Write to them using Royal Mail Special Delivery so that there is no doubt that they have received your letter and ask them to write back to you and advise you what action they intend taking to resolve the issue.

 

[lizijj]

It is a public (minor) road - is on the map. I am not against gates on roads per say as I know they are useful when moving livestock etc, But these gates are permanently closed to keep the cattle in the fields. I'll chase up the PC about this - our BHS Access team is swamped... We are fighting on our own!

 

[Patterdale]

Yes it's all within the law - just get off to open them!
Would you be prepared to fund new gates? Because if the existing ones work then I'm certain the landowner wouldn't.

I really really really don't mean to sound offensive, but I don't think its a big deal to just have to get off to do the gates. If the BHS etc approached my OH to request he spend hard earned cash on new gates for the pony people he would tell them where to stick it! Lol.

I'm sure if you wanted to get together and raise the cash it would be different, maybe think about this?

Also, be grateful - they could be cattle grids!

 

[Patterdale]

Ps - there are quite a few roads like thus that I know if, particularly in the high country so you can get gates across public roads

 

[lizijj]

Cattle grids wouldn't be a problem, as there would have to be some access for disabled etc. What about the cattle chasing horses...?? No offence taken! Am married to a farmer so face these discussions every day! I would just like my children to be safe riding!

 

[Littlelegs]

Cattle as a rule don't chase horses. Perfectly legal to have cattle in a field with a footpath so don't see the issue with riding through.

 

[lizijj]

These cows do... have had to get off when they poke my mare up the backside...

 

[Patterdale]

Just shoo them away and make sure you walk, and dont get between the herd and split them. If they're young they might just be inquisitive and follow you a bit, but they shouldn't pummel you to the ground or anything

It probably would be worse if there were grids too, because they put the gates next to them and it can be v dicey trying to open them when the horse is dancing about right next to the grid!

 

[lizijj]

Thanks for the advice - our horses are used to cattle on our farm, but on this road they have ran after us every time and scared the horses.... irritating!

 

[Littlelegs]

If half a tonne or so of beef was chasing my horse, it would take a very large sum of money to persuade me to get off & stop it 'poking' myself.

 

[lizijj]

Thanks for the support! I would rather be on the ground and shoo the cattle off than be on board a frightened horse. You have an open invite to great hospitality at our farm and a ride through these cattle fields!

 

[Littlelegs]

Sorry, bit confused. Either the cattle are a danger, in which case I wouldn't be on the ground moving them, I'd stay on the horse. Or they're a bit nosey but harmless if you're happy to get off, in which case I don't see the problem. As for the horse being frightened, difficult as that may well be, I don't think its the problem of whoever owns the cattle.

 

[Patterdale]

I would jump off the frightened horse and ride the cow to safety.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

I'd take a hunting whip, and flick them away.

I would also follow Peter Natt's advice.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

I sympathise with you, OP. I've ridden through fields with cattle for many years without thinking about it until I encountered cattle on one route that were a complete nightmare. Not only did they chase the horses but they were quite aggressive as they surrounded us and turning the horses into them or waving a whip didn't move them back.
Horses were fab, but the few times we rode the route before avoiding it, was pretty tricky.

Can't help with the gates, the one's we have are fairly easy to open, or there are cattle grids with small side gates.

 

[zaminda]

We actually ring the council when a bridleway is blocked,there is rubbish dumped etc. There is a specific lady who deals with, and she seems to appreciate it, and we then have a personal contact. As a result, she has had several paths mown, and sent people to pick up the fly tipping. I've never had a problem with cattle, but I'm not so sure gates have to be openable from horseback, just openable!

 

[Patterdale]

But its not abridleway and it's NOT blocked!

 

[StarlightMagic]

If the cattle are actually dangerous then the duty of care comes in so you could report them I believe

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

You state that this is a public road in which case gates can not be placed accross a public road. So I assume it is a public right of way such as a Bridleway, Byway or White Lane. If it was a public right of way then riders should be able to open the gates from horseback. Please contact the access department of your County Council and advise them of the issue. Write to them using Royal Mail Special Delivery so that there is no doubt that they have received your letter and ask them to write back to you and advise you what action they intend taking to resolve the issue.

Thats correct.

Yes it's all within the law - just get off to open them!
Would you be prepared to fund new gates? Because if the existing ones work then I'm certain the landowner wouldn't.

I really really really don't mean to sound offensive, but I don't think its a big deal to just have to get off to do the gates. If the BHS etc approached my OH to request he spend hard earned cash on new gates for the pony people he would tell them where to stick it! Lol.

I'm sure if you wanted to get together and raise the cash it would be different, maybe think about this?

Also, be grateful - they could be cattle grids!

I also understand what you are saying too - ref time/expense
However, on public roads or Bridleways in England any gates which are closed across the definitive right of way, have to be able to be operated by horseriders on horseback. (will toddle off to find relevant info)

 

[Patterdale]

It's not correct.

This thread is getting a bit ridiculous.

If you can get through, which you obviously can, then there is NO access issue.
There is no law to say that gates on public roads have to be openable from horseback.
If there were, most landowners in the country would be criminals.

If you can just get off and open the gate, what is the problem?

It is HIGHLY unlikely that the cattle will 'chase' you. If they are young cattle you will find that they may follow you out of curiosity. If you then run, they will run to keep up. They will not hurt you.
If you have time to stop and get off the horse, they are DEFINITELY not chasing you down to kill you.

The cattle and the land are someones livelihood. The countryside does not exist as s playground for horse riders.

If you can get through I really can't see the problem.

People ought to be thinking more of YOUR duty of care to the land and livestock.

 

[AmyMay]

I often ride on common land where cattle are grazing - have never been chased, and horses aren't bothered by them.

I also come across gates frequently - some that can be opened from horseback, but many that can't. I simply get off the horse and open them.

 

[AmyMay]

If the cattle are actually dangerous then the duty of care comes in so you could report them I believe

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

I have to ride through a cattle field and a yard to get to my hacking, there are 3 gates in total, none have horse special fasteners and it doesnt bother me, I look on it as training for endurance rides where there are often gates that need to be opened and closed.

Re the cattle, it depends on the horse. My friend gets off and leads as she feels safer that way. I stay on board as my girl is bargy in hand and I feel more in control up top.

A locked gate would constitute obstruction. A perfectly openable gate, even if you have to get off to do it, to me is not an obstruction as long as the gate swings open easily and doesnt have a self closer that snaps back. There is no law saying horseriders have to be able to stay in the saddle to open gates! we havent lost the use of our legs! Added to which horse fasteners on gates are about 50x more expensive than a standard fitting, and non horsey people then sometimes cant work out how to open the gate (daft but true)

Cattle can be curious about horses and it is unnerving to have a gaggle of them breathing heavily behind you, but they dont attack horses like they do dogs, they dont see them as a threat.

If we want people to be pro horses, we need to work with the countryside and those trying to make a living from it, to me that means only stamping feet where there are deliberate attempts to block RoWs etc - then I go in all guns blazing!

 

[Patterdale]

Glad to see it's not just me........!

 

[MerrySherryRider]

It is HIGHLY unlikely that the cattle will 'chase' you. If they are young cattle you will find that they may follow you out of curiosity. If you then run, they will run to keep up. They will not hurt you.
If you have time to stop and get off the horse, they are DEFINITELY not chasing you down to kill you.

The cattle and the land are someones livelihood. The countryside does not exist as s playground for horse riders.

If you can get through I really can't see the problem.

People ought to be thinking more of YOUR duty of care to the land and livestock.

I have to disagree. Attacks by cattle are uncommon but they do happen as the NFU acknowledges.We all know that walkers with dogs are more likely to encounter problems but knowledgeable farm workers and even a vet in Cheshire have been fatally injured in the fields.

Last year a man was killed and his wife injured by cattle in a field near to me. It was a field with a footpath that I had walked through some weeks before and the cattle worried me to the extent that I walked a further 4 miles rather than return through the field.

I am not scared of cattle nor are my horses. I've ridden through a field where the bull was serving cows at the time, after the farmer said we'd be fine. We certainly don't run or flap about but some herds are more than curious.

Also have cattle in our horses fields and round our XC course. Not a problem.

The bridleway that caused us a problem due to the cattle, we simply avoided when the herd was there because we do appreciate the farmers need to earn a living over our desire to enjoy a hobby.
However, farmers have been fined substantial amounts after walkers have been injured or killed and their insurance premiums reflect that.

To say cattle 'will not hurt you' is not true, better to be realistic and have respect for the nature of large farm animals rather than complacency.

 

[Littlelegs]

I'm sure in some circumstances cattle can cause a problem. But in the case of the op I don't think they are dangerous. I stand by my original point that if they are acting aggressively I wouldn't be getting off to move them. And if they're simply inquisitive, but your horses fear of them means you have to get off to move them, that isn't really the farmers problem.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

OP says that the cattle do chase the horses and has to dismount when they poke her mare up the bum. If I hadn't encountered very troublesome herds, I'd be more inclined to agree with you.
However, my personal feeling is that if there are alternative routes to ride when the cattle are using the land, I'd avoid using the road purely as the farmer needs to make a living. If however, it is the main hacking route for the OP and other riders, I'd speak to the farmer to see if he could manage the problem some other way. After all, its fair that he should be aware.

 

[SplashofSoy]

Most cattle are no danger to horse riders, yes to those on foot especially with dogs. There are of course always the exceptions and any cattle who repeatedly cause problems for any person/animal/vehicle using a public right of way should be reported but i find this unlikely. We quite often have fields with bridelways with cattle and they have never been a problem, the younger ones are usually curious but my TB is fine with cows and will just herd them out of the way.

A gate is not obstructing a right of way if it is not locked/accessible to all and there for a purpose such as fencing in livestock etc. No requirement for it to be able to be opened whilst on horseback. We are lucky that the national park fixes alot of the gates etc to keep them working but they do drop etc and if you have to get off heyho you have to get off, not the landowners problem.