Wind turbines - responsibility

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MyBoyChe

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We have a fabulous bridleway network close to us but at the moment there is a planning app in for 5 wind turbines which would be within 200 metres of at least 6 separate sections of the tracks. The bridleways criss cross and go round the edges of about 12 fields and through the woodland so quite a big area will be affected. I dont think there is much chance it will not go ahead so does anyone know who would be responsible if a horse and rider had an accident which could be attributed to the turbines (Im thinking shadow flicker with my particular horse). Would it be the landowner, the energy co, the council or would it be the sole responsibility of the rider, after all, you dont have to use the bridleways, you can always stick to the roads!! The council have spent quite a lot over the years on fitting gates and the bridleways are well signposted, they are part of the 3 Shires and Swans Way network, so it seems a shame that for many of us they will become unusable. Ive heard that they would be closed for the duration of the build (assuming it goes ahead) which is likely to be 12+ months and once reopened my concern would be that if the shadow flicker causes Che to spook, I come off and he gets loose, puts his hoof down a rabbit hole etc etc. I know thats the worst case scenario but I am a naturally cautious person and take as many safety precautions as I can, Im just not sure I would risk it.
 
I can't see how you having an issue with your horse & wind turbines can be the responsibility of the wind turbine owners? Does your horse spook at turbines? He may not, you won't know until you try him.

If your horse spooks at a tractor with massive trailer coming down the road & you fall off, is it the farmers fault?

You'll just have to try your horse out with them, assuming they get planning permission. It's just the same as when you took him out on the road for the first time, he probably spooked at some things then that he doesn't pay any attention to now.
 
Well you could object to the planning application on the grounds that it will negatively affect the bridleway. Talk to the BHS access department for help with this. If there are other objections too then they might not get permission.

However, do not assume that your horse will have a problem. We have some on our hacking routes and most of the horses don't bother about them. First time past they might be a bit nervous, but after that they don't even look. Occasionally on very windy days they make a funny noise and the horses get a bit tense but even when horses see them for the first time most don't bother.

The BHS are looking quite closely at the issue of wind turbines and horses so it would be well worth joining if you aren't a member. But I understand that in general horses and windfarms aren't considered a problem.
 
We have some near us, and have ridden right underneath them - literally close enough to touch. They are a bit daunting for the riders with the blades going round, but the horses never turned a hair at them tbh.

As KK said you can object to the planning application, talk to other local riders if you want more backing with your objection. But IME none of our horses have had a problem going right underneath them or near them
 
MyBoyChe said:
We have a fabulous bridleway network close to us but at the moment there is a planning app in for 5 wind turbines which would be within 200 metres of at least 6 separate sections of the tracks. The bridleways criss cross and go round the edges of about 12 fields and through the woodland so quite a big area will be affected. I dont think there is much chance it will not go ahead so does anyone know who would be responsible if a horse and rider had an accident which could be attributed to the turbines (Im thinking shadow flicker with my particular horse). Would it be the landowner, the energy co, the council or would it be the sole responsibility of the rider, after all, you dont have to use the bridleways, you can always stick to the roads!! The council have spent quite a lot over the years on fitting gates and the bridleways are well signposted, they are part of the 3 Shires and Swans Way network, so it seems a shame that for many of us they will become unusable. Ive heard that they would be closed for the duration of the build (assuming it goes ahead) which is likely to be 12+ months and once reopened my concern would be that if the shadow flicker causes Che to spook, I come off and he gets loose, puts his hoof down a rabbit hole etc etc. I know thats the worst case scenario but I am a naturally cautious person and take as many safety precautions as I can, Im just not sure I would risk it.
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I think most horses take little notice of these colosall wastes of money that are built to subsidise the wealthy and spoil the countyside... I would worry more about what these follys are adding to your bills...
 
We had a wind farm near my old yard (about 12 windmills) - I hacked an incredibly spooky Welshie right underneath them on a bright sunny day and I don't think she even noticed!! :D I think the shadow flicker unnerved me more than it did her.
 
perfect11s said:
I think most horses take little notice of these colosall wastes of money that are built to subsidise the wealthy and spoil the countyside... I would worry more about what these follys are adding to your bills...
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Do be careful that when that colossal chip falls off your shoulder it doesn't land on your foot!

OP - it is no ones responsibility but your own if you fall off your horse if he spooks. Please don't fuel the compensation culture. As others have said, wind turbines don't usually bother animals - we have several in our area and even spooky TB's have hacked by them without concern, so I'm sure yours will be fine.
 
We have a wind turbine that we have to pass and we are riding on the road past it. They didn't like passing it to begin with but with patience and persuasion we have got past them - banana shaped but we have got them passed it. They have now got used to it so I'm sure your horse will in a matter of time. Its more the noise they make than the structure themselves with a very low humming I think that they are wary of!
 
Gluttonforpunishment said:
Do be careful that when that colossal chip falls off your shoulder it doesn't land on your foot!

OP - it is no ones responsibility but your own if you fall off your horse if he spooks. Please don't fuel the compensation culture. As others have said, wind turbines don't usually bother animals - we have several in our area and even spooky TB's have hacked by them without concern, so I'm sure yours will be fine.
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Couldn't have put it better myself.
 
I had a very spooky tb. Went to local HT one year - no wind turbine, went again next year, one had appeared, very close to the course; thought I was going to end up on the deck, as he had never seen one before.

What did he do - go straight past it, never batted an eyelid; and as another poster put above, its your own fault if you fall off your horse!
 
Ridden past loads of them with no issues, the horses get used to them IME.

Am I the only one that quite likes them... I wouldn't want to see one on every hill, but I think they can look quite majestic, personally, rearing up against the skyline.


ETA - at the risk of sounding chippy myself, there is a danger that horseriders are seen as expecting the whole world to stop for the sake of their hobby, and this means that when we do actually have a real reason to ask for concessions (like people driving considerately) these are less likely to be taken seriously IMO. We can't expect the world to revolve around our horses, but that is what a few riders seem to expect and it gets right on my wick!
 
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I quite like turbines too, and can see a small one from my garden that popped up on a local farm last year.

May be a waste of money in some people's eyes, but at least they are trying to do something to diversify power needs, even if it isn't a long term solution (but then neither is coal).
 
Spudlet said:
Ridden past loads of them with no issues, the horses get used to them IME.

Am I the only one that quite likes them... I wouldn't want to see one on every hill, but I think they can look quite majestic, personally, rearing up against the skyline.
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I agree with you Spudlet, I like them too.

And OP I have a sillly spooky mare who doensnt turn a hair at them.
 
Hattie had never seen wind turbines before and then we had to pass some while hacking to a show in June. I was riding bareback as my OH was bringing my show tack in the car and Hattie did not bat an eye, a TB as well!

Personally, I quite like them. I REALLY like the idea of not having more nuclear or fossil fuel power stations in the future and our kids and grandkids having to deal with all the pollution, waste and cancer caused by them. We need more renewable power sources as the ones we have now, are crap. I would be happy if the council put one in my garden as it would be a reminder that the future is NOW.
 
I agree that it is your responsibility.

I took our horses out on a different hack and we passed close to a load of wind turbines and they took no notice other than a quick look.

It is the same with low flying helicopters and jets, of which we get many a couple of days a month. Just last week we were riding up the lane in the trees and a 'copter flew directly over us seemingly about 10 feet above, it was low and it was noisy but not one of the horses tok any notice at all.
It is a matter of training. If your horse trusts you and respects you then he will do what you want regardless of what is around.
 
Some horses are badly effected by wind turbines.

I have had a lot of experience of wind turbines and the effect they have on horses.

Some of the effects are:
Sunlight being reflected in the stationary or rotating blades temporarily blinds passing horses.
The dark moving shadows caused by the rotating blades scares passing horses.
The noise of the turbines can effect horses at quite a distance away (2 miles)
Ice being thrown off the rotating blades and hitting passing horses and riders.

I have been involved in negotiating with local landowners and planners regarding proposed wind turbines in my area and it is most important that horse riders write in to the planners explaining their concerns over a proposed wind turbine so that their concerns are logged.

In the event of a proposed application for a wind turbine I always ask for a completely circular new public right of way of byway statue to be created on the ground which is at least in radius four times the total height of the wind turbine from the wind turbine. The other issue is the construction stage when large vehicles may be using the local roads or crossing rights of way. The contractors need to be made aware that horse riders use the route so that they drive appropriately and with care.

There are some horses that are not effected by wind turbines but there are a lot that are.
 
Spudlet said:
Ridden past loads of them with no issues, the horses get used to them IME.

Am I the only one that quite likes them... I wouldn't want to see one on every hill, but I think they can look quite majestic, personally, rearing up against the skyline.


ETA - at the risk of sounding chippy myself, there is a danger that horseriders are seen as expecting the whole world to stop for the sake of their hobby, and this means that when we do actually have a real reason to ask for concessions (like people driving considerately) these are less likely to be taken seriously IMO. We can't expect the world to revolve around our horses, but that is what a few riders seem to expect and it gets right on my wick!
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I think they're beautiful. Most of the big turbines planned for the UK are designed to be out at sea, so they won't a huge issue.

Totally agree with you about a section of riders who seem to want the world to revolve around their hobby.
Try the old fashioned way- training and desensitisation or take responsibility and limit your hacking to the ability of yourself and horse.
If the rider sees something as a problem, it most likely will be. With prudence and commonsense there shouldn't be an issue.
 
sidesaddlegirl said:
Hattie had never seen wind turbines before and then we had to pass some while hacking to a show in June. I was riding bareback as my OH was bringing my show tack in the car and Hattie did not bat an eye, a TB as well!

Personally, I quite like them. I REALLY like the idea of not having more nuclear or fossil fuel power stations in the future and our kids and grandkids having to deal with all the pollution, waste and cancer caused by them. We need more renewable power sources as the ones we have now, are crap. I would be happy if the council put one in my garden as it would be a reminder that the future is NOW.
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you mean the past the bigest con in history, oh and how many people have been killed by nuclear power???
 
The council will contact the BHS as a consultee on the application when it goes in, if they applicant has not already approached them, which they are likely to do. The BHS will work with the applicant in most cases to ensure the turbines are more than 200m from the bridleway, this is standard, I know because i'm an environmental consultant and work on projects like this.

On a practical side, your horse is likely to be fine, i ride all mine (from newly backed babies up!) under them and not one has ever looked at them.
 
See, I know that nuclear is the only feasible current technology that could fulfll our energy requirements if we didn't use fossil fuels tomorrow.

However I believe the development in technologies like wind power, and any thing developed from the back of them can only be a good thing - we need to try! :) Unless we are all willing to give up all electricity tomorrow and save it for the needy (like hospitals) - thought not! :D
 
OWLIE185 said:
Ice being thrown off the rotating blades and hitting passing horses and riders.
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This made me laugh! When the developers and considering sites they site the turbines typically 200m + the tip height from any rights of way. That is often 325m from the edge of a ROW. Ice throw is incredibly rare, and if it is a problem the developers switch the machines off and try to sort the problem.

They blade's have to be spinning very quickly to throw ice over 325m!! I know of one turbine in cabridgeshire which was dropping ice onto a shed room 70m from the shaft (still within the blade diameter... this was one of the earlier turbines built in the 1990's so seperation distances were very leniant)

Ice hitting riders!!! Very funny!!

Turbines! I don't like them I LOVE THEM!!!!
 
Also, I really don't think you can hear until you are practically underneath - I have worked on lots of sites with them and can't say it bothered me. One site the strobing was bad, but many of the big wind farms are in scotland, and there's not that much sunshine there :D
 
I think in the bigger scheme of things - wind turbines delivering cheaper energy (allegidly) no one is going to give two hoots about a handful of horse riders.
 
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