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West Somerset and Exmoor Bridleways Association

Our aims are to improve access to new and existing bridleways and other rights of way and to promote an awareness of the bridleways amongst members. Please see our Constitution under the Committee button for further details.

If you ride in West Somerset and Exmoor and would like to be involved in the Association we are looking for more area representatives, please see the Area Representative button under Who to Contact.

Happy Viewing....

West Somerset & Exmoor Bridleways Association Winter Newsletter

Dear members - and lapsed members who I am sure are about to renew their subscription!

As some of you were unable to attend the AGM earlier this month I thought it might be helpful to keep you up to date about what was discussed on the night. You will find attached to this newsletter are the AGM Minutes AND my Chairman’s Report which will give you an idea of what has been happening this year on the bridleways front. Your Committee of six was re-elected en bloc. Barbara Wigley has kindly undertaken to keep our web site up to date. This is a huge help as it will mean we can get bridleway news out to you on a more regular basis.

After the business side of the meeting had been attended too, Karen Jones, Endurance GB Team member gave us a most amusing account of her experiences of competing in the 100 mile European Endurance Championships held in Florac in France last September. Karen is a regular competitor in the annual Golden Horseshoe Ride which is rated as one of the tougher rides in England. She acknowledged that Exmoor made an ideal training ground for the vertical hills she encountered in the Cevennes Mountains around Florac.

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the very informative British Horse Society’s National Access Forum at Stoneleigh in mid October. Some of the items on the agenda included: - Coastal Access; Sustrans – multi-use paths; Local Authority enforcement of equestrian rights of way; Gates trials; The health Benefits of Riding, the latter makes interesting reading and a copy of this report can be viewed on the BHS web site

www.bhs.org.uk.

The BHS Horse Accidents web site

www.horseaccidents.org.uk set up last year is already showing that horse related accidents are increasing at a worrying rate. In one year there have been logged 192 dog attacks; 277 road accidents; 50 slippery roads incidents; 36 low flying incidents; 20 firework incidents; 33 gate incidents. The web site is currently being up dated with a view to offering incident reports for: Chinese lanterns; Bird scarers or Gas guns; Bicycles; Horse transportation; Fire.

Do please use this web site if you have a horse related accident or a "near miss".

I also recently attended an evening meeting where all the Chairmen of Bridleways Associations in Somerset were invited to Wincanton to meet our new BHS County Chairman, Gill Longhurst. It was good to share news and views from other bridleways in the County. It would seem that we all face similar problems regarding Rts of Way. WS&EBA current subscription is modest in comparison to some other B.As. subs!

So please if you have not already done so do renew your £5 subscription or take the bargain offer of £20 for 5 years!

Don’t forget your Hi Viz when riding out in these dark, dank days.

Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for 2012.

Alison Kent.

Chairman, December 2012.

Click here to read the Chairman's Report

Click here to read the minutes of the AGM

Leg up for equestrian tourism in Devon

Pilot schemes to boost Devon 's economy by tapping into the potentially highly lucrative equestrian tourism market are being set up by the County Council.

The idea is to create recreational horse riding networks of full and half day circular routes to assist the growth and development of associated rural businesses including horse-friendly B&Bs, camping barns and riding schools.

The schemes are to be trialled in three of the county's most scenic areas - Ruby Country, the Blackdown Hills and the area around Tavistock and Bere Ferrers.

These areas have been selected to link the network of bridleways, restricted byways, unsurfaced county roads and rural off-road cycle routes which could become multi-user routes. Local landowners, parish councils and horse riders will be involved in identifying routes that provide safe off-road links.

The County Council plans to use £250,000 of the money it received from the sale of Exeter International Airport to fund the project. It is hoped a network of trails can be set up by 2012.

The pilot schemes are being promoted by the chairman of the Public Rights of Way Committee County Councillor Joe Tucker who says that equestrian tourism already generates more than £30million to Devon 's economy.

"Devon has the natural resources needed to develop a thriving recreational horse riding network, and this will enable us to promote Devon as the premier county for equestrian tourism."