British Horse Society
Scotland
Horse riding – issues and good
practice guidance
Alice Jaggard
BHS Scotland
September 2011
Key access issues for horse
riders and carriage drivers
Locked gates
Tracks not re-instated
Unsuitable surfaces
Key access issues for horse
riders and carriage drivers
Dunging – on paths,
tarmac or hard
surfaces, agricultural
land, forestry
Competition from other
users
Key equestrian access issues
for landowners
Churning up
of tracks by
Horses
hooves
Balancing
interests of
all users
Keeping
mechanised
users out (e.g.
motorcycles)
whilst allowing
others access
Common Concerns
from Landowners / Land Managers / Other users
• Affect on land management activities – game and clay
pigeon shooting
• Landowner’s family / other users are afraid of horses
• Dung left on tracks and paths
• Damage to tracks and paths
• Gates left open – livestock issues
• Dogs not under control
• Some riders attitude – “I have a right”
• Density of horses in the area
• Riding through a neighbours garden
Irresponsible Equestrian
Access
• Most riders are responsible but there are always
a few that give the rest a bad name.
• It is the one bad apple that makes the whole
barrel bad (in the eyes of land managers).
• This is where we risk being locked off access.
• Where possible self police – you are all likely to
loose access if even one rider is irresponsible
• Don’t give land managers a reason for restricting
your right of access.
Questions
&
Comments
Success stories
Use of vehicle barriers non-motorised vehicles can
still take access
Horse-friendly gate
opening up new rides
Success stories
How BHSS is spreading the
word
• Literature
– SNH - Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
– BHS
• Access Fact Sheet
• Dung guidance
• Equestrian Access in Scotland (joint guidance
with Scottish Land & Estates)
• Are you riding responsibly?
•
•
•
•
Access Reps in each Region
Affiliated Access Groups
Working with other organisations
Trade stands and other events
Dung Facts
• Dung is mainly digested grass, it is biodegradable, in small amounts is useful in
compost bins
• Dung from a healthy horse presents no threat to
human health
• Different for dogs – Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act
2003
– It is an offence if a person does not immediately remove their dog’s faeces from
any public open space, this includes riders who take their dogs with them.
• Horses usually dung towards the start of a ride
• Some horse stop to dung, some never dung
when being ridden, some dung at speed!
Dung Advice!
• Dung and Public Roads
– No legislation to oblige BUT
• If you dung outside
someone’s driveway…
• It comes down to courtesy
• Especially with large yards
• Dung and Paths, Tracks
and off road routes
– If your horse starts to dung
try to position its bottom to
the side / verge
– If your horse dungs on a
• Dung and Car Parks
multiuse path it is
responsible and courteous
– Never clean out your lorry
to:
or trailer in a car park or
layby
• Dismount and kick to the
side
– If your horse dungs while
tied to your box you should
always take it home
BHS Scotland do advise courteous and responsible yards to do
regular ‘poo-runs’ on heavily used routes
General Advice
Dealing with an Access Issue
• Yes, the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 gives riders
the same access rights as walkers and cyclists, so long
as it is taken responsibly but be aware that land
managers do find equestrian access more difficult to
accept.
• Calm and polite communication directly with the land
manager should always be the first approach. If on
horseback, dismount to hold the conversation.
• Contacting the BHS or local authority should follow an
attempt by you to resolve the issue yourself which has
been unsuccessful
How YOU can help
• Ride responsibly, kick aside / pick up your dung
• Make sure your whole yard does so too
• ‘Self police’… remember, one bad apple turns the whole
barrel bad
• Put up dung posters at access points on mixed use
paths / make other literature available
• Keep in touch, let us know when / how we can help
• Create and maintain harmonious partnerships
• Think about the number of horses who may be using the
same routes
• Do regular ‘poo-runs’ on these heavily used routes
Questions
&
Comments
Further information
Contact:
Helene Mauchlen
H.Mauchlen@bhs.org.uk
or
Alice Jaggard
A.Jaggard@bhs.org.uk
British Horse Society Scotland
Woodburn Farm
Crieff PH7 3RG
01764 656334
www.bhsscotland.org.uk