PETITION - HIGHWAY CODE CHANGES  

The BHS is asking for last-minute amendments to the new Highway Code, which could be in force in August. The BHS suggested amendments to the new Highway Code to the Secretary of State back in February 2006. But according to BHS director of access, safety and welfare Mark Weston, some have apparently been ignored. The Code will forbid riding two horses abreast on narrow and busy roads and when riding around bends. It will also exclude horses from all cycle tracks. There can be many valid reasons for riding two abreast: groups of riders, nervous horses, novice riders, and defensive riding on winding country lanes where there is insufficient room for a car to pass a single horse safely. Breaches of the Highway Code could potentially be used in evidence in any court proceedings under the Traffic Acts in order to establish liability in an accident. There are many cycle tracks which have been specifically designed for use by horse riders, and the loss of these would be very serious for those who rely on them.

The petition was created by Ashley Filmer and reads:

  'We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Block

amendments to the Highway code to stop people riding horses 2 abreast on the roads, and to formalise horseriders access to  cycle paths.'

 http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Horseriding/

If you follow the link it will allow you to sign the petition on-line.

Mashbury Ride

I think our ride at Mashbury is one of my favourites (I probably say that about them all at some time or other!), however, our ride this year, on 10th June, must have been my most pleasurable in terms of marshalling; sitting on my chair in a shady spot, armed with flask, lunch, and a good book, watching riders cantering up a lovely, old-fashioned meadow – extremely unstressful!  Luckily no cows this year to upset our more sensitive equines!  Overall, the rider was extremely successful, with about 140 entries; only one moaner (statutory), and lots of very complimentary comments and thankyous.  We had a small problem with what is now becoming a regular occurrence; i.e. marker removal by anarchists/horse haters or general grouchy person unknown, but fortunately this time our intrepid trail blazer, Petra, was able to replace missing tags before the next riders arrived on the scene.

Once again this year, lots of riders asked me “how far to the ford?”  This seems to prove popular with both horses and riders who enjoy a paddle towards the end of the ride on a hot day.  We also have our stalwart group of riders who ask for a shorter route, who seemed happy with their option, albeit without a paddle!

Mary Balch