Stubble fields Question!?

[Singing Dawg]

Be careful, otherwise all you'll end up with twisted fetlocks and pulled tendons, or worse! Galloping across a stubble field is not like galloping across a grassy meadow.

The stubble fields near us are actually not suitable to gallop across. They are very uneven and rutted where the tractor wheels have been working them, and the ground in Bedfordshire is clay, meaning these fields are either as hard as concrete or a sticky as glue.

The ones near us have been so dry there are cracks wide enough for a leg to go down, please walk any stubble fields you plan on charging over! boring but worth it

 

[teagreen]

I have found that farmers are less inclined to say yes now than they were 10 years ago, sad really.

We used to let people ride on our land, but in the past couple of years we've had to spend so many working hours rounding up cattle that got out through an unshut gate, or surveying the hoofprints in the newly seeded ground that we now say no when people ask Those around here used to be really grateful to be allowed to ride on our stubble, but now they seem to assume they can do whatever they want and bad mouth us when we say no.

I know most people are thoughtful enough not to do these things, but it only takes a few to ruin it for others.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

PLEASE peeps, don't ride on any fields, stubble or not, without asking first. The reason being that if your horse gets a bit whoopy and bucks or something, and you fall off and injure yourself in his field, the farmer might well be legally responsible, i.e. in this stupid country of ours - the farmer would be worried that you would sue him/her.

Of course, most landowners/farmers or whatever would (or should!) have insurance to cover "trespass" of this sort, but it does have the potential unfortunately to create illfeeling between farmers and horse-riders when they see people galloping over their land not having asked first!!!

I know a local farmer here who'd sown the field next door to us - which looked like nothing had been done to it, and some kids went in there and galloped around with their ponies, and it created a whole lot of anti-horse feeling from this particular farmer.

Yes, its tempting, but I think we all have to be responsible and ask first. Yes, there used to be an unwritten rule that at this time of year when fields were in stubble, it was OK to have a breeze around, but unfortunately the law is an ass and if farmers do say no, its not that they're trying to be difficult, its very likely because they don't want the pants sued off them!

 

[Orangehorse]

Mostly it comes under the heading of "cheeky" if you don't ask, I doubt if the farmer would be too worried, but some crops may already be sown for next year - our rape is sown and growing already and you wouldn't really know if it is stubble or a new crop.

I would echo the "be careful." A stubble field can be the most terrible going, hard, rutted, cracked and with badger holes in the middle. Always walk or trot where you want to canter first and go with the tractor tracks, not across.

I think it is true that farmers are less inclined to say yes than in previous years, just for all the reasons mentioned.

 

[_daisy_]

like others have said, not lost anything in asking.
I approached a local farmer and he said yes. so ive got lots of stubble field to gallop in. just hoping he isnt going to plough them up anytime soon as im hoping he lets me go in the grass field hes cut when hes baled it as i can then join about 7 fields up and pop some walls plus they start literally 2 fields down from my yard

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

always ask!!!! how rude not to!

i follow the tractor tracks, as the broken up straw falls off the trailers, get churned down to tiny pieces and makes a lovely soft covering.

 

[Laafet]

I can understand totally why farmers don't want to say yes to one and then get a whole load of people ruining it for the few good ones, round here it is very frustrating as there are very few bridle paths, and the roads are a bit of a rat run. We don't have many livestock farms and most fields are not even hedged so it is gutting. We also have grumpy walkers that are trying to get us banned from riding on the farm where the livery yard is even though we have permission and they are just using their 'right to roam'. On a slight deviation I am so fed up of the walkers that use the cut through in the mare and foal field and don't bother to shut the kissing gate so the foals gets stuck or have to be 'rescued' as they are terrified of horses and our lot are so chilled out they don't tend to move out of the way of the walkers (they don't even move out of the way of the tractors when we top or paddock sweep!).

 

[yeeharider]

Must be a Yorkshire thing, Stubble fields are fair game never ask, never get told off would not dream of sueing farmer if we fell off in his field,how can you, long may it continue Yeeha!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[scally]

Unfortunately it is the few that spoil it for many, our local farmer never had a problem with riders using his fields, if they asked his permission first, his fields also have a fantastic path from main dyke to main dyke where you never hit a road sadly he now longer allows riders to use them.

Now he sets bird scarers on his fields, and ploughs them as soon as possible due to riders that have not asked his permission (to which he never said no, but gave a few rules and fields not to be used), caused damage to fields he didnt want ridden on, been verbally abused when asking riders to leave and he is fed up with it.

It is not public property or a right of way, so at least do the decent thing and ask before you trespass on someone elses land, how many posts are on here because of people abusing footpaths, bridleways etc when our beloved horses are in the fields and suffer the results, where is the difference between this and riding over a farmers land!

 

[noblesteed]

ALWAYS ask!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I keep my horse on a farm and I was told I was ok to ride in the stubble fields, I took my horse in one and the farmer saw me and said 'don't ride in that one as it's been deep drilled' ie they don't have to plough it before they can seed it. He was ok about it (as I rent a field off him) and he told me I could ride in the fields that have bales in them as they have to move them before they can drill... been for a good blast tonight tee hee!!!!!!!
But as I said to him, I wouldn't have known it had been seeded unless he had told me, so it's good to ask!!!!

 

[Spudlet]

Someone on here was saying the other day that some riders went onto one of their stubble fields without permission, and galloped straight into a coil of fencing wire that was on the ground, seriously injuring their horse

Best to ask first!

 

[YorksG]

I doubt if the OP has much chance to ride on stubble, looking at where she comes from, it will most likeley by hay fields and I can't see many land owners being happy about horses galloping round them. Often they are used for sheep after cutting and baling, and they are never stubble as the crop stays there to grow for the year after. I think wherever you are sheuld ask before you go on some one elses land, to not do so is just so rude.

 

[Chestnuttymare]

wouldn't dream of going into someones field without asking. I asked our local farmer (who is a friend) a couple of years ago and he was quite happy as long as we walk it first to check it is safe for the horses. I still wouldn't hoon around, just stick to the edges.

 

[fruity]

Ours have had the straw off it and are currently starting to be ploughed again,all 2,500 acres!! I however don't canter through our stubble fields because around our area it's just too flinty. I will go round the outside of the field and pick and choose a canter but it's just too risky. Am dying to have a bloody good gallop though,our ground has been too hard for months now

 

[pottamus]

I am really not surprised by the number of you that ride on stubble fields without permission...typical horse riders that think they have a right to do as they please...and yes, I am a horse rider too.
You are TRESPASSING! You have no right whatsoever to go in someone elses field and gallop about for your own enjoyment...you really do have a nerve to even consider it.
Some farmers spend their entire life tending those fields, why the hell should you just help yourself. Would you be happy with walkers trudging through your horses fields just because they can...or kids going in there for a quick game of footy.
No wonder there are so many people (farmers included) that are anti horse riders...you tar everyone else with the same bad brush and make it bad for everyone else. Grow up and have the decency in life to get off your butts and find out who owns the land and ask them.

 

[guido16]

Have to say, I agree with pottamus.

What a cheek some of you have! What gives any of you the right to just help yourselves to someone elses fields.

 

[Ashgrove]

We have 2 stubble fields at the moment.
I ride in both / either of them.
If anyone else was in there on horse back or foot, they would be promptly kicked off.
My husband usually says yes if people ask permission, but will always kick off if they haven't.

The people that really annoy us are the ******* with grey hounds after the hares, they leave the gates open.

 

[andraste]

OK, don't shout at me because this is a genuine observation. I always understood that, in Scotland at least, Right of Access means you can ride around the outside of any field as long as you do so responsibly and within the guidelines of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

I would ask anyway though because I'm nice and polite

 

[Arabelle]

I am lucky enough to live in Scotland, so the stubble fields are fair game
Sadly I don't have a pony to take stubble bashing this year - most frustrating to see all those lovely fields and have nothing to ride

 

[guido16]

Arabelle,

What makes you think the stubble fields in Scotland are "fair game"

Right to roam "responsibly" is one think, galloping around a stubble field is not the same!

 

[Arabelle]

Arabelle,

What makes you think the stubble fields in Scotland are "fair game"

The Land Reform Act - google it

 

[Arabelle]

OK, don't shout at me because this is a genuine observation. I always understood that, in Scotland at least, Right of Access means you can ride around the outside of any field as long as you do so responsibly and within the guidelines of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

The Land Reform (Scotland) Act sets down in statute a presumption in favour of access, if taken responsibly, over most areas of land and water. It establishes statutory rights of non-motorised access (e.g. for walking, cycling, horse riding, canoeing) to land and inland water for passage, recreation, education and commercial activities.

Land which is growing crops is not included within the right but Ministers made clear to the Parliament that access along field margins, along tramlines (tractor drills) and between rows of vegetables was within the right so long as no damage or disturbance was done.

 

[guido16]

Chapter 2 - Exluded areas
Sec 6

G (i) in which crops have been sown or are growing

Plus

9 Conduct excluded from access rights
The conduct which is within this section is—
(d) being on or crossing land while responsible for a dog or other animal which is not under proper control;
---------------------------------------------------------
Would be interesting to know how many people galloping are under proper control!!!


Clearly your quite happy to go into a farmers field that MAY BE undersown and gallop through it. Thats a great free for all.

No wonder farmers get pissed off with horse riders.

Plus please explain to me how "no damage is done" by a galloping horse?

 

[EPRider]

A lot of wire has gone up in field gateways due to inconsiderate horse riders galloping in stubble fields without asking permission first. Some good hacking routes are now out of bounds all year round because of a few!

Last years wet weather and galloping horses made a mess and has spoilt it for everyone for the fore seeable future.

 

[teagreen]

Right to Roam is ridiculous. A daft Government interfering yet again - how unfair is it that people have every right to roam all over land that a farmer paid for, therefore is his?

I don't get why people think it is their right to go wherever they want. I think I'm just bitter over this issue because of so many bad experiences

 

[Arabelle]

Chapter 2 - Exluded areas
Sec 6

G (i) in which crops have been sown or are growing

Plus

9 Conduct excluded from access rights
The conduct which is within this section is—
(d) being on or crossing land while responsible for a dog or other animal which is not under proper control;
---------------------------------------------------------
Would be interesting to know how many people galloping are under proper control!!!

Erm - I am Plus - see my quote about access to field margins/tramlines.

Riders have been stubble bashing for years - long before the land reform act, which really just set in statute normal practice and tradition in Scotland -it is ye olde country tradition and great fun

 

[guido16]

"Riders have been stubble bashing for years - long before the land reform act, which really just set in statute normal practice and tradition in Scotland -it is ye olde country tradition and great fun"

Easy to see that you have never owned crop fields.

 

[Arabelle]

"Riders have been stubble bashing for years - long before the land reform act, which really just set in statute normal practice and tradition in Scotland -it is ye olde country tradition and great fun"

Easy to see that you have never owned crop fields.

You know nothing about me - have you heard the saying about 'never presume'......

 

[guido16]

Lucky guess then.

 

[teagreen]

But if you haven't asked, how do you know that the field has not been seeded (we've just done one stubble field with rape,for example) or that there is not a hidden rough patch in the middle that you wouldn't notice until you were 10m away at a flat out gallop?