Giding principles and good practice
This activity is generally well managed and causes no significant damage to nature
conservation interests. National Trust land is greatly valued by riders but there is little provision
for carriage drivers at present. There could be more provision for both types of equestrian access.
Experience shows that on sensitive sites access by permit is an effective means of control.
Guiding principles
1.
The National Trust welcomes equestrian access on its land and will seek to promote and extend provision
in conjunction with its farm tenants wherever appropriate. In particular, it will look for safe off-road
routes and contribute to a wider network on its own and neighbouring land.
2. Permits are an acceptable means of regulating numbers on sensitive or heavily
visited sites.
Good practice
Liaise
with British Horse Society (BHS) County Access and Bridleways Officers, Bridleways Associations, the
British Driving Society (BDS) and its local representatives, local riders and riding schools to discuss
the needs of riders/drivers and the National Trust. Killerton, Devon: new routes created
in conjunction with local riders Crooks Peak, Wessex: good links with local riders Quantocks and Blackdown
Hills, Wessex: good links with local riders
Promote the BHS/BDS Code for Riding and Driving Responsibly.
Permits provide an opportunity to regulate use and liaise with local riders and
drivers to understand their needs. It also helps the National Trust inform local people of its own needs
and can engender support. Associated fees should largely reflect administration costs.
Ensure that the number of permits reflects carrying capacity. Consider limiting
numbers of horses per group, eg for commercial groups suggest a ratio of leaders:members of at least
1:10. This could be delegated to local riding/driving groups. Hatfield Forest, East
Anglia: 150 permits on a 1000-acre estate Ashridge, Thames & Chilterns: 150 permits on a 15-mile
route
Provide information specifically for riders and drivers, ie maps, leaflets or newsletters
to encourage responsible access. Long Mynd, Mercia; Ashridge, Thames & Chilterns;
Hatfield Forest, East Anglia: access maps Ashridge, Thames & Chilterns: newsletters
Link new routes with bridleways and byways beyond National Trust boundaries.
Ensure woodland tracks are open enough to dry out, but resist pressure for wider
tracks unless this also meets other needs. Resist pressure for hardened or wood-chip surfaces and major
drainage, except on Rights of Way where there is no alternative.
Retain flexibility to close permitted routes during wet weather on poorly drained
sites, or use paths in rotation.
Provide separate networks of paths for specific activities, ie riding, driving,
walking and cycling, where site characteristics allow and use is heavy.
Consider appointing voluntary/paid riding/driving wardens. Maidenhead
& Cookham Commons, Southern: volunteer riding wardens Ashridge, Thames & Chilterns: paid riding
warden for permit scheme
Prohibit galloping in the interests of public safety and ground conditions, except
in specified locations.
Encourage local riders' and drivers' associations to raise money and assist with
path maintenance. Headley Heath, Southern: Headley Heath Riders' Association has raised
funds to help maintain routes on the property
Proposals to diversify into horse enterprises should be carefully considered.
Press for planning controls on commercial establishments if the locality cannot
support sufficient routes.
Zone or control the use of beaches by commercial establishments.
Where gates are necessary ensure that catches can be operated from horseback/carriage
as appropriate (References: BHS Bridleway Gates).
Consider the provision of facilities for riders, eg hitching posts, mounting blocks.
Hatfield Forest, East Anglia
Monitoring suggestions
Maintain
permit records. Count riders/drivers at sample localities on sample dates, eg three times a year. This
could be delegated to local riding/driving groups.
Trends
BHS membership:
1970 - 17,338; 1980 - 27,000; 1990 - 51,181; 1996 - 65,000. BHS target 100,000 by 2001.
Riding clubs - an estimated 40,000.
BDS membership is around 5,000 with 92 affiliated clubs, but an estimated 10,000
people drive.
There are increasing demands for access to footpaths where bridleway provision is
poor.
Possible impacts
- No damage noted on 50% of riding sites studied during access review (1992).
- Erosion and poaching of paths and tracks, especially where the ground is wet and/or where
there is regular commercial use.
- Damage to nature conservation interests, particularly on woodland rides.
- Disturbance to heathland birds.
- Damage to archaeological features.
- Conflict between horses and walkers can occur if riders use footpaths. Some walkers can
be frightened by horses, and surfaces can become muddy and unpleasant for walking.
- Conflict with cyclists, eg speeding cyclists startling horses.
Contacts
and liaison
British Horse Society
Stoneleigh
Deer Park, Kenilworth CV8 2XZ
Tel: 01926 707700
Fax: 01926 707800
Email:
enquiry@bhs.org.uk
Web site: www.bhs.org.uk
Contact: Access and Rights of Way Department
The Society is the governing body for riding and driving. It is a national charity
focussing on welfare, safety and training which aims to improve standards of care for horses and ponies
and opportunities for riding and driving. The BHS produces a number of policy and advisory statements
as well as technical information about bridleway maintenance, gates and surfaces. The Society has a
network of voluntary regional and county access and bridleways officers dedicated to improving the network
of riding routes and a list can be obtained from Stoneleigh.
Endurance Horse and Pony Society
Tudor
Nurseries, Chalk Pit Lane, Wool, Wareham, Dorset BH20 6DW
Tel: 01929 462316
This society promotes long-distance riding for sport and pleasure.
British Endurance Riders' Association
NAC,
Stoneleigh Deer Park, Kenilworth CV8 2LR
Tel: 024 7669 8863
Ulster Riders Association
3
Sunnybrook, Ballyrobert Road, Crawfordburn, Co. Down BT19 1HT
Contact: Chairman
The British Driving Society
27
Dugard Place, Barford, Warwick CV35 8DX
Contact: Executive Secretary
The aim of the Society is to encourage and assist those interested in the driving
of horses and ponies. It appoints Area Commissioners in most counties of England, Wales and Scotland.
Local riding/driving clubs/associations and establishments
Byways and Bridleways Trust
St
Mary's Business Centre, Oystershell Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5QS
Tel: 0191 233
0770
Institute of Public Rights of Way Officers
PO
Box 78, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 4UP
Tel: 07000 782318
Legislation, codes and agreements
Horses can be ridden on bridleways, byways, roads used as public paths (RUPPs) and
unclassified roads (UCRs), but not on footpaths. Horse-drawn carriages can only be driven on byways
and some RUPPs and UCRs.
It is also possible to ride on 'permitted' or 'licensed' routes for which an annual
fee may be payable. The National Trust does not currently have a standard permit, but examples can be
drawn from existing agreements (see Good Practice).
References
British Horse Society - 'British Horse' magazine; 'Tracks', quarterly newsletter.
The Byways and Bridleways Trust - 'Byway and Bridleway' magazine, ten times a year.
The Institute of Public Rights of Way Officers - 'Waymark' magazine.
British Horse Society (Rev. 1995). A Guide to Surfacing of Bridleways
and Horse Tracks. British Horse Society (BHS), Kenilworth.
British Horse Society (Rev. 1997). Bridleway Gates - A Guide to
Good Practice. BHS, Kenilworth.
British Horse Society (1993). Code for Riding and Driving Responsibly.
BHS, Kenilworth.
Countryside Commission (1993). Horses in the Countryside - A Code
of Practice for Owners and Riders. CCP 261. Countryside Commission, Cheltenham.
National Trust (1992). Horse Riding on National Trust Property.
Coast and Countryside Information Sheet, Annex 1-8. National Trust, Cirencester.
National Trust (1992). Statement of Cooperation between the British
Horse Society and the National Trust. National Trust, Cirencester.
|
