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RIDER RIGHTS

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Says Naomi Smith

Says Naomi SmithIt is all too possible to round a corner on horseback and come upon a group of cattle with no prior warning -this WILL result in a horse being badly spooked at best, bolting at worst -it is only a matter of time ........... read more

Ford crossing Springwell Lane Hartley Wintney.

The correct procedure will be to secure guidance from the waterways authority .

Says Tony Barnett

Says Tony Barnett A petition has been started to have Harts District council repair the ford crossing, off Springwell lane at Hartley Wintney.

For and on behalf of Horseytalk.net I have made enquiries into who might be responsible for the maintenance of the access and it transpires that no one can be held liable, the access is over farm land and is not registered as a bridleway on the definitive plan and statement but as a footpath only, there are two other footpaths close by steming from one eg,107/53/1 becoming two 107/4/1 and 107/53/2 the water crossing does show what could be a crossing point, it is not numbered and referred to as Ford only and may only be crossed by choice/at risk because the rights are footpath only meaning you could be breaking the law.

There is a right of way, referred as a track, confirmed by the council as a bridle path from 107/46b/1 past Hares Farm and onto Springwell Lane, but leaving Springwell Lane it is only recorded as a footpath, there has not been any complaints that horse riders are using the footpath but if there was, then the council and the land owner would become involved with the possibility that access is only by foot being confirmed by legislation and imposed.

May I suggest that the correct procedure will be to secure guidance from the waterways authority as to your petition for the restructure of the river bottom or as the work would/could be carried out by yourselves seek the council permission and the oppinion of the farmer.

There is the 1832 Presciption act that can be exercised for equestrian access, the basis of the doctrine of prescription is that the right has been exercised for very many years the law willpresume that it has been exercised since AD 1189, the limit of legal memory and thus lawfully exisits, to succeed, the user on which the prescription claim is based must be, certain and reasonable, as of right, without interruption and without seeking permission to access, claims made because of custom will not be entertained.

Says Linda Wright

Says Linda WrightWe moved to a Shropshire location a year ago having surveyed the local OS map and noted the significant number of bridleways around the property. Sadly the map appears a total fiction. Scarce any of the bridleways are usable ........... read more

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