On a scale of one to ten...

[x-Marmite-x]

How naughty is it to ride on a footpath :o:p? (don't worry i haven't myself, was just wondering about it yesterday!) Round my way the paths (through fields owned by council and rented to farmers i believe) are designated footpaths but just about everyone who uses them cycles on them too ;) - i have cycled along them all my life and no one has ever questioned it - and if i go out walking then i'm just as likely to meet a cyclist as i am a walker. But due to a lack of yards about you never see horses out and about - either on the footpaths or on the few bridleways we have. So how illegal is it to ride on them? I never think twice about cycling on them :o - i know i should and i can't really use the 'everyone else does it!' excuse - but just wondering how frowned upon it is, as i can imagine there would be certain people round my way who would have a fit if they saw a rider on the paths, but no one that i've ever known/heard of has ever had any issue with the bikes being used. Any thoughts - does anyone ride on footpaths?


(ETA: 4000th post :eek:! I need to get out more :p:D!)

[DavidH]

about as wrong as cars on bridleways

[Gemsluvshorsesx]

I've cycled on footpaths for years but most of them weren't really wide enough for a horse even if i did have a horse to ride - plus its illegal anyway so I just wouldn't consider doing it.

[x-Marmite-x]

I wasn't going to :D (don't have a horse to take out even if i wanted to :p!) - just wondered - so why is it 'OK' to cycle on them but not to ride :confused: - or am i just asking too vague a question there :p?

[jennywren07]

it is pretty naughty. We ride down one footpath . We found a new bridleway out hacking (sign and everything) so nipped down it. had a pretty good blast down the side of a field. when we go off the other end the sing said footpath :confused:

Turns out they changed it to a footpath but didn't change both signs. They still havn't changed the sign so we still ride down it (but only from that end) never seen a walker but should we come across one we would always give way to them and not just go haring past

[*Goldfish*]

I've ridden on a footpath once!

While we were out hacking there was a car crash and someone unfortunatley died. They closed the road. The only option (other than to wait numerous hours for the road to be opened) was to ride down a footpath, so thats what we did. Only problem was we had to jump the stile at each end :eek: luckily they were tiny :D

[Bangers & Mash]

I must admit I have riden and still do ride on foot paths when roads are very busy and there are no people walking on them simply because the drivers down by me have no clue! I know you shouldn't and 95% of the time I don't but there are no speed limits on alot of the roads I HAVE to go down to hack and it is an urban area we keep our horses and most of our drivers don't understand. In fact I have been over taken at high a speed by a driving instructor!

[Asima]

My old horse was kept on a foot path and I used to ride on it all the time so did loads of others, nobody minded actually they seemed to enjoy watching and stopping for a chat :D

[learningcurve]

My old horse was kept on a foot path and I used to ride on it all the time so did loads of others, nobody minded actually they seemed to enjoy watching and stopping for a chat :D

Dont know if I'm being thick, but kept on a footpath.:confused:

[palmerlover52]

Footpaths can run through fields, learningcurve, so the public has right of way and can walk through. :)

Okay, on one to ten, how naughty across a golf course? >=)

Muha, no, but they look so pristine, I just want to go crazy with a machete. But then I'm a crazy person ;)

[CER1389]

We ride on one "proper" footpath - it is the quickest way into the village (literally 4 horses length over a bridge) else we have to go onto the main road...which I'm not prepared to do. However the foot path is so short I don't really count it.

Then we have one footpath on the farm they are kept on so we get to ride on that :D

[affected]

Was looking this upu not so long ago actually to ses exactly where we stand, as to get to our only bridleway round here we have to ride down a public footpath :confused: now...i ask you ha ha...

It is not technically illegal it is more a case of a civil torte than a criminal offence...

It is considered a wrong against the landowner ie tresspass however and can move to a criminal offence if

A) we damage the land the footpath runs down ..then it is criminal damage
or
B) we obstruct the right of way of walkers or others entitled to use the path as we are then causing a public nuisance (sp?)
so a section 5 i think
???? been hunting for the link where I found this , something to do with public rights of way anyway :)

[affected]

RE the golf course...thats gotta be a 12 :D ha ha

[oinkmoooink]

Hmm, i have ridden like, twice, on a footpath which the land owner said we could use for riding, so i think thats okay?
However, given i have a footpath running through my fields, id be really annoyed if people started riding through them, I do lead my ponies in hand on footpaths though, the shetlands only on the enclosed ones, and they arent much bigger than dogs so i dont think they count, and the bigger ones on big footpaths.

[old_woman]

If you have permission from the landowner, that's a different matter - but you should give way to walkers and not rough up the surface for them.

However, even if the Shettie is a mini and smaller than a large dog, you are still not legally entitled to take it on a public path which holds the status of footpath, without the landowner's specific permission, and neither are you legally allowed to lead any horse along it, no matter how wide or how carefully you go. The only 'natural accompaniments' of a pedestrian using a public footpath have been defined as a dog, a perambulator and a wheelchair. Even cyclists are not really allowed to push their bikes - they should apparently, to be totally within the law, carry them and not let them touch the ground.

The thing is, is that if we are seen randomly using footpaths without permission, why should we then have any right to complain when motorbikes and 4WDs use bridleways?

Of course this is English and Welsh law- the laws elsewhere vary.

[mogadoga]

I never do unless needed, ie because of cars/bikes!
Although at my old yard i could hack home and had to ride up the path through two cuts to get to my house, although i know everyone there anyway and they didnt mind and the kids would stop and stroke him etc. Either that or hit a busy road and with some drivers these days id rather not!

[Befff*]

I ride on a footpath when:

The horses are slipping whilst walking down the bridge,

Im riding round a corner and I feel worried that I'm going to be hit.

But I agree with the golf course xD
Just go crazy on a 5 tonne horse xD

[tetsmum]

On the farm we livery at we have permission from the farmer to use the field alongside the footpath (which means on the headland which IS the footpath in reality........... and he has left us another headland to get out onto the road near the neighbouring liveries indoor school........ which isn't a footpath, but links to them as a short cut home. Bless him.

As for the golf course. When my youngest took her last tumble her horse disappeared top speed across the golf course - including a green .......... they were very lovely, but it was on the understanding that the horse and rider had parted company. The road home went right through the middle - the horse took the 'crow flies' approach............... They were nice, but I wouldn't want to push it - golfers can be pretty precious.

[palmerlover52]

I ride on a footpath when:

The horses are slipping whilst walking down the bridge,

Im riding round a corner and I feel worried that I'm going to be hit.

But I agree with the golf course xD
Just go crazy on a 5 tonne horse xD

A 5 tonne horse? Eep, what're you feeding?! :eek: :p

(I think the OP meant a footpath, not a pavement for pedestrians ;))

[Kc Mac]

In the woods local to us there r loads of great bridleways and u can ride round them for hours as they all link without using the footpaths. However where some people did use the footpaths and churned them up they now have kissing gates at each end on ALL the footpaths to stop riders!

Must add i did ride along one a few times but not often

[TheHoglet]

people walk allong bridlepaths dont they?
and if theres no where else to ride then some times you have to. i dont think its illegal, i and loads of others where i live walk dogs allong the bridle paths and i've ridden on footpaths because of there being absolutely no bridle ways where i used to keep my pony and unless you wanted to ride allong a moterway you had to use the footpath i did it for 2 years and no one arrested me.
i dont do it now as i have loads of off road hacking that belongs to the farm my pony is now stabled at.
basicly if the council dont want horses on footpaths they should make more bridlepaths available to horse owners everywhere not just out in the contry and tell walkers not to use bridlepaths to walk on

[TheHoglet]

Footpaths can run through fields, learningcurve, so the public has right of way and can walk through. :)

Okay, on one to ten, how naughty across a golf course? >=)

Muha, no, but they look so pristine, I just want to go crazy with a machete. But then I'm a crazy person ;)

the golf course down the road from me has a bridle path running through it so in my case 0 no naughtyness :D:D

ETA: sorry for the doubble post :o

[Brychen]

I think the word footpath sort of indicates the fact its for people on their feet!

As a mum of a young toddler I would hate to find some numptie on a horse coming down a footpath towards us.

Footpaths are actually a right of way for pedestrians ONLY. NO traffic, bikes , cars or equestrian.

Bridlepaths are right of ways open to pedestrians and equestrians, but no motor traffic.

BOATS are open to all traffic.

I think its the height of hypocrasy to moan about motor traffic using bridle paths and then trespass on footpaths.

it is possible to upgrade footpaths to bridle paths and do the same with BOATS but trying to do it by trespass just plays into the hands of the vociforous ramblers association who would love to ban horses from bridlepaths and boats.

[Brychen]

Forgot to say if you can prove equestrian use of a path over a number of years (checking old o/s maps is a good way) it can help get a footpath regraded. I live in an area with loads of bridlepaths but used to keep my horse virtually in central Birmingham so no bridlepaths at all.

I can sympathise with peoples frustrations but you leave yourself wide open if you sue footpaths as you are trespassing on the owners land and I suspect have no insurance cover or right of redress if your horse is injured on a footpath.

[Tazanne]

...

[KJW]

Ah, I must score a 15 then for having the odd cheeky canter across a school playing field - not during school time of course, I wouldn't want to subject my poor horse to a horde of screaming kiddies. :p Golf courses can be tricky due to the pesky holes, but it's good for practising games as you can pick up the flags.:D The last one was a joke btw!

[xloopylozzax]

never ride on either- dont need to.

only time we go on the pavement is to allow cars past if they're been whiney and not overtaking (i know they're been nice, which is why im even nicer and move over and thank them profusely as they pass ;))

my dad said that only people (and dogs) should be on the path, bikes (push and motor), prams and any other "vehicle" should be on the highway.

not to mention the fact that if they poo on the pavement you should get off and kick it into the gutter, because its not fair to pedestrians...

[Daffy Dilly]

I would only use a footpath in an emergency - ie no other route home, or we needed the fastest possible route home for safety reasons.

Similarly I only ride on the pavement if I feel it is the safest course of action - that means no pedestrians on there, because I would only move out of the road if something like a tractor was coming as Daffy is scared of them and won't stand for them to pass.

[susannah_x]

Golf courses can be tricky due to the pesky holes, but it's good for practising games as you can pick up the flags.:D

hahaha brilliant!!!

[old_woman]

people walk allong bridlepaths dont they?

Of course they do - they are perfectly entitled to do so, they have been doing so for millenia and horseriders and cyclists should give way to them. Walkers have the right to use ALL the normal public highways in England and Wales other than roads classified as motorways. The term 'highway' encompasses everything from a public footpath(a public highway of the lowest status) to a public road (a public highway of the highest status) and everything in between, ALL of which, apart from the aforementioned public footpath, both horses and cyclists have the right to use.

and if theres no where else to ride then some times you have to. i dont think its illegal,

Yes it IS illegal, whatever you choose to think. it is also very, very bad manners towards the legitimate users, disrespectful to the land-owner and only confirms the belief held by many 'ordinary' people that all horseriders are arrogant toffs. Where do you think the term 'riding rough-shod over something' originates?

i and loads of others where i live walk dogs allong the bridle paths

and long may you continue to do so, I hope cyclists use them, too, and people in wheelchairs and pushing baby buggies.

and i've ridden on footpaths because of there being absolutely no bridle ways where i used to keep my pony and unless you wanted to ride allong a moterway you had to use the footpath i did it for 2 years and no one arrested me.

Not wishing to be horrid, but it was your choice to keep a horse in a place where there are no bridleways - no-one forced you to do so! And, no, you wouldn't get arrested ... heck you don't even get arrested for loads of criminal acts nowadays, let alone civil torts such as trespass. But you do build up a store of bad feelings and reluctance to co-operate, perhaps in later years when finance becomes available ...

i dont do it now as i have loads of off road hacking that belongs to the farm my pony is now stabled at.

good

basicly if the council dont want horses on footpaths they should make more bridlepaths available to horse owners everywhere not just out in the contry and tell walkers not to use bridlepaths to walk on

Who is the council? YOU if you are over 18. It is up to YOU to campaign, join bridleway associations, raise funds and be politically active, just as the ramblers have done for so many years with eventual success. It is also not as simple as the council not 'wanting' horses on footpaths - would YOU like your toddler to step into a steaming heap of horse poo in the middle of a FOOTpath? - but the fact that horses have no RIGHT to be on a footpath. In addition, it is only on COUNCIL-OWNED land that the council can simply 'make more bridlepaths available' and if their land does not link with any networks of quiet lanes or other safe and useful riding routes, they cannot magic them out of thin air.

[Clava]

If you have permission from the landowner, that's a different matter - but you should give way to walkers and not rough up the surface for them.

This is what I wanted to ask....I have permission from the estate owner to ride round his land on which there are some wide footpaths - so it is OK to ride them?

[Alice1992]

Of course they do - they are perfectly entitled to do so, they have been doing so for millenia and horseriders and cyclists should give way to them. Walkers have the right to use ALL the normal public highways in England and Wales other than roads classified as motorways. The term 'highway' encompasses everything from a public footpath(a public highway of the lowest status) to a public road (a public highway of the highest status) and everything in between, ALL of which, apart from the aforementioned public footpath, both horses and cyclists have the right to use.



Yes it IS illegal, whatever you choose to think. it is also very, very bad manners towards the legitimate users, disrespectful to the land-owner and only confirms the belief held by many 'ordinary' people that all horseriders are arrogant toffs. Where do you think the term 'riding rough-shod over something' originates?



and long may you continue to do so, I hope cyclists use them, too, and people in wheelchairs and pushing baby buggies.



Not wishing to be horrid, but it was your choice to keep a horse in a place where there are no bridleways - no-one forced you to do so! And, no, you wouldn't get arrested ... heck you don't even get arrested for loads of criminal acts nowadays, let alone civil torts such as trespass. But you do build up a store of bad feelings and reluctance to co-operate, perhaps in later years when finance becomes available ...



good



Who is the council? YOU if you are over 18. It is up to YOU to campaign, join bridleway associations, raise funds and be politically active, just as the ramblers have done for so many years with eventual success. It is also not as simple as the council not 'wanting' horses on footpaths - would YOU like your toddler to step into a steaming heap of horse poo in the middle of a FOOTpath? - but the fact that horses have no RIGHT to be on a footpath. In addition, it is only on COUNCIL-OWNED land that the council can simply 'make more bridlepaths available' and if their land does not link with any networks of quiet lanes or other safe and useful riding routes, they cannot magic them out of thin air.


I agree with someof what you are saying but breath!! x

[old_woman]

I agree with someof what you are saying but breath!! x

I am breathing and I did breathe. There are plenty of full stops and commas in appropriate places in my post, which enable you to breathe too, should you deem it necessary to read the post out loud.

Although ramblers can be and often are a darned nuisance at times, many of our best-loved bridleways are only statutory public paths because of sterling work done by the often-despised aforementioned walkers in using them over the years. The other poster seemed to want to ban them from bridleways - for what purpose I am not at all sure.

[old_woman]

This is what I wanted to ask....I have permission from the estate owner to ride round his land on which there are some wide footpaths - so it is OK to ride them?

I am sure that it is OK to ride them with permission. However if your horse were to damage their surface and make a previously-walkable path unwalkable, then as far as I understand, the council or the Highways department could force the landowner to restore the path to its previous condition, if complaints were made.

As the paths are wide, though, this would be unlikely to happen I would think. I ride on private land which is crossed by footpaths and take care to avoid narrow, low-lying or peaty paths in wet weather. Walkers seem to be very much creatures of habit and even though much of the land on which I ride is 'open access' for walkers, they largely stick to the paths, so in some cases I simply ride a short-cut across dog-legs and bends of the footpath to minimise my impact and reduce any possibility of complaint.

[Asima]

Dont know if I'm being thick, but kept on a footpath.:confused:

A footpath ran over a farmers land so he rented it out to horses, they were effectively on the footpath unless we chose to restrict their grazing.

[TheHoglet]

would YOU like your toddler to step into a steaming heap of horse poo in the middle of a FOOTpath?

i wouldnt mind really its not as bad as a child standing in dog poo on a footpath but no one complains about dogs using the paths.

[Clava]

I am sure that it is OK to ride them with permission. However if your horse were to damage their surface and make a previously-walkable path unwalkable, then as far as I understand, the council or the Highways department could force the landowner to restore the path to its previous condition, if complaints were made.

As the paths are wide, though, this would be unlikely to happen I would think. I ride on private land which is crossed by footpaths and take care to avoid narrow, low-lying or peaty paths in wet weather. Walkers seem to be very much creatures of habit and even though much of the land on which I ride is 'open access' for walkers, they largely stick to the paths, so in some cases I simply ride a short-cut across dog-legs and bends of the footpath to minimise my impact and reduce any possibility of complaint.

Thanks. These paths are either tracks used by farm vehicles or the one which worried I'm a little is a broad path through a wood. The surface on the this path is pretty good and I don't ride it often so that all sounds positive.:)

[joey_olop]

At my old yard there used to be a footpath that bordered our back field-we would always use it to have a blast up, luckily you could see the whole track & whether there were people on it or not :o

ETA It is very naughty to ride on a footpath :D

[old_woman]

i wouldnt mind really its not as bad as a child standing in dog poo on a footpath but no one complains about dogs using the paths.

Well, no of course they don't - as dogs are defined in law as a 'natural accompaniment' to pedestrians, it wouldn't make any sense to complain about it. Horses aren't a 'natural accompaniment' to pedestrians, though. Horses enable the pedestrian to become an equestrian - a huge difference in speed, status, ability to travel,, goods that can be carried and all other sorts of very fundamental things.

However, LOTS of people do complain about dogs FOULING paths and in many areas it iis encouraged, coerced or even legislated that you must clear up your dog's faeces if on public land or footpaths. AFAIK no one has - YET! - made any effective noises about having to do this with horses, tt least in the UK, but if we were to be granted access to public footpaths, you can guarantee that would be one of the first things demanded of us. It wouldn't take much for this demand to be enshrined into law and then for the law to be extended to cover bridleways, BOATS, and even roads.

Still, it would be a good business opportunity for someone to make folding dustpans and brushes, with a saddlebag to carry them and a supply of sturdy plastic bags!

[Lacetti]

I only know one footpath, and yes, I'm afraid I used to ride along it, but it was never used by walkers, being out of the way like.

I understood that you can use a footpath if you are LEADING your horse - please feel free to correct me if I am wrong

[Wally]

I wouldn't ride or drive my horse on a footpath by the side of the road, or on a public foot path. As Old Woman says, there are a lot of folk who are terrified by horses and although a horse poo to us is a joy to behold a lot of folk find them disgusting ;) It just adds bad feeling towards the riding community.

You cannot use a foot path if you are leading your horse either I am afraid.

The tourist board approached me to take tourist in a horse and cart up and down the main street....which is a pedestrian area, no cars allowed after 11am. So therefore I am not allowed to take a horse drawn vehicle on to the street either, yet they were prepared to endorse it......

[old_woman]

I understood that you can use a footpath if you are LEADING your horse - please feel free to correct me if I am wrong

Please consider yourself corrected.

if you lived in Switzerland you could - or so I am told by Swiss friends - indeed use footpaths as long as it is dry weather, you dismount and give way to real walkers, but in England and Wales you can't, as a horse is not considered a natural accompaniment to a pedestrian.

Neither is a bicycle, and strictly speaking a cyclist should CARRY his bike, not even push it, if using a public footpath.