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In conjunction with the Stansted Foundation we have created a safe off road track parallel to the Forestside Road at Rowlands Castle.  We held pleasure rides to raise the funds for the fencing of the track and it has also proved popular with walkers who also prefer to keep away from the traffic.

Working alongside the Forest of Bere Project in conjunction with Hampshire County Council and Forest Enterprise a riding track has been created in Havant Thicket between Rowlands Castle and Horndean which is a valuable riding resource which can be used all year round.  Currently the access from Horndean needs improving and we are looking at ways of addressing this and also the fact that permits are required in this area, although not in other parts of the country.  However we have negotiated a 50% discount on Forest Enterprise permits for members of the Bridleways Group.

This picture shows the exit of the new permitted route through Hollybank Woods at Emsworth courtesy of Havant Borough Council.  Opposite is the existing bridleway,  access to which was gained by riding down the very busy main road.  The sightline has now been cleared and riders now have safe access to the bridleway network beyond Emsworth.  We held an Access Week Ride through Havant to draw the Councillors attention to the plight of horseriders on the road and this track is one outcome of Havant Borough Councils change of attitude towards horseriders.  The group nominated them for a BHS Access Award which was presented to the leader of the Council last spring.

There are currently two outstanding historic claims for bridleways from the Hants & West Sussex Borders Bridleways Group.  The route from Lye Common to Up Marden is lodged with the West Sussex County Council and one with Hampshire County Council for Footpath 69 which we believe was wrongly designated on the definitive map as part way along it becomes a bridleway when it crosses the boundary into West Sussex.

Apart from the everyday bridleway  problems we are actively involved in encouraging Local Councils to consider horses in their future development plans particularly when upgrading roads for vehicular use.  There is a need to understand the safety aspect of having to use the roads to get to the bridleways.  We are currently having limited success with this.

However the Highways Authority has now offered some improvements to motorway bridges and other road crossings to improve things for horse riders, so things are looking up in that respect.  We have taken part in the survey and have identified  some bridges which need higher sides between Queen Elizabeth Forest at Petersfield and the end of the A3M at Farlington.  There is also a footbridge at Bedhampton which would be a golden asset were the sides made high enough for horses to use - so this has also been requested. 

Over the past 50 years the transport departments have done everything to make the traffic flow freely and faster to the detriment of the horse rider, pedestrian and cyclist.  This has resulted in hedge to hedge tarmac in many cases and we intend to encourage both Hampshire C.C. and West Sussex C.C. to adopt the Quiet Lanes Initiative which is being piloted by two other counties in the Country.

As a rider or horseowner you can help by being a member of our group so that should the need arise to prove how many leisure horses are kept locally who need safe riding facilities we are in a position to fight our case with a large membership list.  We have found that requests that come from the Group are more effective than matters of concern taken up by individual riders.  We hope you will join us.