Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that horse riders shouldn't be given equal access to woodland paths as walkers etc?

106 replies

Yeahreally · 12/08/2022 21:33

Read this article in the Guardian and it kinda made my blood boil: www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/12/give-horse-riders-equal-access-to-english-woodlands-say-campaigners

IMO the spokesperson for the Trails Trust is completely ignoring the safety issues at play here. I have no issue with horses but they are big animals and can cause injury if spooked. So is it really sensible to allow them on all pathways of whatever size where runners, cyclists and people just walking their kids or dogs might be? How exactly do you give them a suitably wide berth on a narrow path?

Being a bloke, I'd be massively interested in the MN view on whether there is some sort of inequality issue at play (ie. because riders are more likely to be women there are being disproportionately affected by the current restrictions)? The argument that current laws were unfair because "They (riders) don’t want to walk, they don’t want to cycle.They feel safe in the countryside on a horse,” is incredibly weak and massively ignores how this affects other path users.

OP posts:
letsghostdance · 12/08/2022 21:39

If people don't want horses on roads and don't want them on woodland trails where are they meant to go?

Jackie246 · 12/08/2022 21:40

I’m a woman with a horse who rides frequently in the countryside and the argument that it’s a safety issue for women seems totally bonkers, I can’t think of a single woman I know who rides who does so because they feel it’s the only safe way to access the countryside. Especially, as you point out, because riding is a high risk pursuit at the best of times as horses can spook. However, I live in Scotland where we have ‘right to roam’ and essentially no trespassing laws, so you can, within reason, ride basically anywhere. Myself and people I ride with are respectful and cautious and don’t go on narrow paths with a lot of footfall, but you have to rely on peoples good sense which is tricky!

Acheyknees · 12/08/2022 21:41

You just need to be sensible, as do the horse riders. I've never spooked a horse but I've been mown down by a cyclist going far too fast.

Penguinfeather781 · 12/08/2022 21:41

I’d love to see the statistics on injuries caused to third parties by ridden horses versus dogs. Because I’ll bet my house dogs cause far more issues (and are far more plentiful) than horses.

MojoMoon · 12/08/2022 21:42

Horse riders already share narrow paths with cyclists and walkers - plenty of existing bridleways are as narrow as any narrow footpath.
You just stand to the side and they pass - you don't need to give them metres of space so long as you aren't waving your arms around and shouting or doing something to scare the horses. Horses are unlikely to suddenly attack you...

lochmaree · 12/08/2022 21:48

Acheyknees · 12/08/2022 21:41

You just need to be sensible, as do the horse riders. I've never spooked a horse but I've been mown down by a cyclist going far too fast.

didn't take long!

I've never spooked a horse or been mown down by a cyclist but I have been jumped on and intimidated by countless dogs and harassed by a man. also been squashed into metal railings by a car while i was cycling but that was on the road not a path.

PoolSquid · 12/08/2022 21:48

I don't understand why the article talks about the same access rights as cyclists and walkers. Cyclists aren't allowed on public footpaths either, only bridleways so their access is broadly similar.

WhenISnappedAndFarted · 12/08/2022 21:52

I regularly come across horses when out walking my dogs on narrow paths, never had an issue at all

Acheyknees · 12/08/2022 21:54

@lochmaree not sure what your point is but yes, I have been mown down by a cyclist (I live in a place popular with mountain bikers). Never had an issue with horse riders.

Sexnotgender · 12/08/2022 21:54

You know these are horses not lions? They’re not going to attack you.

celandiney · 12/08/2022 21:55

It's illegal to cycle in a footpath and horses and bikes already share bridleways.
It's easy - you stand to one side and let them pass. Or they pull into a space and let you pass.
Horses are not usually galloping through the woods like the Charge of the Light Brigade!
Dogs are spookable too and they can bite - maybe they shouldn't be in woodland.
The equality arguement is just weird, I have never heard that raised before.

Soapboxqueen · 12/08/2022 21:56

I don't live in a very rural area but we still have lots of horse riders. Never, ever have I had an issue with them. Ever. Mind, I don't think I've ever seen a male rider. Always women (or girls occasionally)

I've got a much bigger issue with blokes on bikes (specifically between the ages of 30-60) on shared paths and trails. No regard for anyone. Never a bell or signal that they are racing up behind. One missed me by inches on Wednesday. Nearly jumped out of my skin he was so close.

Bizarrely even teenage boys seem to be able to behave themselves and be respecful of other path users. Slowing down, using bells, saying excuse me or 'on your left' etc

Which I'm sure is an issue for horse riders too as people (pedestrians/cyclists/drivers) act like idiots around them.

tl:dr More horses. Fewer Blokes on bikes #SoapBoxForPrimeMinister

ErrolTheDragon · 12/08/2022 21:56

plenty of existing bridleways are as narrow as any narrow footpath.

Come off it. I use lots of footpaths you really couldn't fit a horse on. And certainly wouldn't allow for passing (let alone horses coming in opposite directions.).

I'd certainly agree it would be good if horses could have as much access as cyclists. Not necessarily identical, there might be some paths appropriate for horses which wouldn't be good for cyclists and vv.

One of the main problems with paths used by horses is that if they're muddy they can chew them up so that they're really unusable by walkers and cyclists. There's a track we used to use which is pretty much ruined now because it's used by a pony trekking outfit. Cyclists damage some paths too. A few paths probably should be closed to walkers too at times when excessively muddy to prevent damage.

Original poster
Yeahreally · 12/08/2022 21:56

There are bridleways that they can already use in the countryside so I don't think anyone was saying we should ban them from the countryside.

OP posts:
tenbob · 12/08/2022 21:58

I don’t have a horse but I have walked in the same areas as them a LOT and I’ve never seen one spook because of walkers or kids.
Cars, yes, but that’s surely why they want to be away from roads.

I don’t think your scaremongering theoretical ‘what if’ is particularly valid

I know more people who have been hurt by cyclists than horses. In fact, I don’t know anyone who has been hurt by a horse they weren’t riding

BorsetshireBanality · 12/08/2022 21:58

I thought legally bridleways had a minimum width (wider than footpaths).

I the winter, the footpaths through the woods near me get churned up by mountain bikers. I wish they would stick to bridleways!

Original poster
Yeahreally · 12/08/2022 21:58

Sorry, that was a response to@letsghostdance , btw...

OP posts:
BorsetshireBanality · 12/08/2022 21:58

(Or wider byways)

Mumteedum · 12/08/2022 21:59

I have certainly had issues with horse riders. Not often but I take you point @Yeahreally .

Two riders in particular gallop their horses across our local field footpath. They probably know the farmer but it doesn't change the fact that it's the only path back if you've done the circular walk which means you just have to wait until they're gone. They also stand and chat in horseback at the path intersection which is also a pain where they do it as it blocks the path.

But it's like anything. People can be assholes on horses on bikes or on foot.

Flowerhorn · 12/08/2022 21:59

I really don't see the issue with this. Some footpaths are narrow but it's rare they're so narrow you can't give other walkers space. I routinely do this with my dog because he doesn't always walk quietly past other dogs. So I can't see why you couldn't give a horse room.

BackToNormalish · 12/08/2022 22:02

I live in the New Forest where riders, ponies, cyclists, dog walkers, families etc all manage to co-exist fairly harmoniously (for the most part).

I can't see the issue if I'm honest.

RightOnTheEdge · 12/08/2022 22:02

Well it's hard because lots of people moan about horses being on roads and say they shouldn't be on there and people don't want them on footpaths either. Where should they go? There are not always a lot of bridleways.
Horses do churn up pathways a lot though and turn them in to mud baths which ruins it for walkers.

I think the point about women riding horses because they feel safer is a bit bizarre.

SoupDragon · 12/08/2022 22:03

I don't think horses or cyclists should be allowed on footpaths. Especially when it's muddy.

walking on a footpath where you should only meet other walkers is much more relaxing that thinking you might come across a horse or cyclist. I always get out of the way of them and keep my dog on a short lead when there's a horse about, waiting for them to pass. Why should they have access to something that would be a detriment to those the paths were meant for - ie pedestrians.

hothorses · 12/08/2022 22:03

Lol as someone who has ridden in places shared with walkers and dogs etc. I can confirm that dogs have caused a hell of a lot more harm than horses including one attacking my horse as drunken owner couldn't be arsed to stop it. So would say you're being pretty unreasonable if you're thinking of the safety aspect
of it.

Stupidbonfire · 12/08/2022 22:05

@Yeahreally I get the impression you are not too familiar or comfortable around horses. And I get that. They seem big and unpredictable if you don’t know how to behave round them.

As a horse owner and rider, walker, cyclist and owners of dogs and small children etc I can tell you that the worst offenders are 100% cyclists in these paths. cyclists seems to have zero awareness of how to pass a horse. (Make a noise to say w are coming, slow down, give lots of space), and also just seem to plough through pedestrians etc. where as I have been taught that when I am on a horse or a bike, you slow down when you meet pedestrians and give space and pass slowly.

When I was a teenager years ago there were lots of places to ride horses, but unfortunately with the influx of new housing estates and lots of townie people using the countryside and disrespecting it, lots of land owners who used to let people ride or walk across their land now don’t. Because of the sheer volume and inconsiderate behaviour of mostly the new build town dwellers who haven’t been brought up to understand the countrywide (in the way I’m sure I would make mistakes in the city). And the national trust and permissible rights if way have much much higher usage meaning the ground is getting churned up. And then the non countryside people moan and ask for gravel paths to keep their trainers cleans. And then the horse riders are banned.
but where should we ride? No horse rider really wants to be stuck on roads. But the general public seem to think that the countryside is full of fields we can gayley canter around. But in reality we are so limited in where we can ride.

if you have a solution please bring it. Unfortunately the pandemic and the mass building of tiny Lego new building homes with no proper gardens and outdoor space had led to a massive increase of countryside users and this inevitably leads to conflict.

I would say though, I would happily ride my horse around and not worry in the slightest if I happened a cross and lone male or someone suspicious looking. Where as on foot I might have a fleeting concern. But I don’t think that’s the issue here.