Off Road Riding in Scotland Expectations Vs Reality The Equestrian Perspective. Helene Mauchlen National Manager BHS Scotland

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1 Off Road Riding in Scotland Expectations Vs Reality The Equestrian Perspective Helene Mauchlen National Manager BHS Scotland

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3 DEAD SLOW Safer Drivers Safer Riders Safer

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7 DEAD SLOW

8 Why off-road access matters Horses are important There are more and more of them Human Wellbeing Horses need exercise The whole point of having a horse is to ride it! The horse and society

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11 What Riders Expect That Landowners respect our legal rights That they wont meet obstructions Or off-putting signs That other access takers will respect equestrian rights Permission is not necessary

12 What Riders Hope That they wont be confronted by irate land owners That access officers and authorities will understand the legal principles and practicalities of multi-use access That something can be done That their individual and group actions count

13 LRA is not a right to roam Right of responsible access Recognise and respect exclusions set out in the Act Certain places certain times

14 The Linburn Pooh

15 Balloch Riders Access Group BRAG are leaders Partners SNH, AFA,FCS & other trust funds On time & on budget 20 miles of routes signed 2018 another challenge

16 A horse A horse! Walkers and cyclists can climb stiles Horse riders have far more problems BUT its not just about us Horse Riders the high spec user!

17 Horse Riders Prams and Push Chairs Disabled / Buggies Cyclists Walkers

18 Can riders expect to be able to use most paths and tracks? Expectation Tracks on maps Promoted paths Tracks you see locally Cycle routes Reality How do you know? Paths can be suitable yet obstructed You can be told not to go there by others We live and ride in a postcode lottery Off putting signage

19 Can riders assume they can use core paths & promoted paths? Expectation Many riders think yes Obvious place to explore Reality No legal compulsion to be developed and run as multi-use Postcode lottery How do you know

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21 The multi-use message Expectation That the multi-use message will get through Reality Scotland has a walking and cycling strategy There is a massive active travel agenda Funding is funnelled Roads Scotland Act The BHS has to work hard to keep our needs to the fore Consultee

22 Can riders ride responsibly in most woodland and forest in Scotland? Expectation Many riders think yes Obvious place to ride Aesthetic, surfaces & ambiance all perfect Recent meeting & plan of action Reality Locked gates Closed for work (indefinitely) Replanting and deer fencing Restrictive access controls

23 Dealing with others Expectation That other users of the countryside will treat us the way they d like to be treated. Cyclists Dogs Campaigns and education Reality You cant ride here You are in my way we want to do MTB in this forest now My dog hates/bites/chases equines

24 Partnerships A toolkit Familiarisation event

25 The earth moves Expectation That surfaces wont lame our horses by being too stony or too soft Reality Its up to us to make that judgement call when we ride and try and influence plans to include suitable surfaces

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27 Can riders expect access authorities to pursue access issues on their behalf Expectation Yes we are hopeful Especially where riders are prepared to do something to help themselves Horse Riders need to be as helpful as possible Self help! Reality Postcode lottery Difficulties in finding help it varies from local authority to local authority Time consuming - losing the will to live

28 Infrastructure Gates, structures bridges Expectation Some riders unreasonably expect to never have to dismount That we will encounter the least restrictive option The Importance of Best Practice Reality Priority is simply being able to get through Riders need to cope with all sorts of infrastructure We can recommend and offer to help install self closing gates but we cant demand them

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31 Conclusions Are riders expectations unrealistic or fair? Basic expectation (at least) to be able to exercise their legal rights of responsible access. In some areas there are no problems, we see barriers removed and a changing attitude. In other areas little has changed riders cant exercise their rights. We still have a lot of unresolved cases. We occasionally encounter irresponsible rider behaviour Uncertainty

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