News

Coastal Access

The Government proposes, in the Marine Bill, to create a national coastal access trail, four metres (or more) wide in England, wider than most bridleways.

The Ramblers’ Association and the Open Spaces Society joined equestrian and cycling organisations in asking the Government to make the new trail open to all non-motorised users.  A right of access to the coast and foreshore for all non-motorised users already exists in Scotland without major problems. 

Walkers enjoy 100 percent of the public rights of way network and all the Open Access created under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. 

Horse riders and carriage drivers have access to only a fragmented fraction of the English rights of way network.  We are particularly vulnerable on the roads but were not included in the Open Access provisions, unlike the right of responsible access to land in Scotland. 

We desperately need new off-road routes, but the Government has decided to exclude equestrians from the  new access right, it has said that equestrian access to the coast can be extended by using existing legislation, or through agri-environmental schemes. 

This will not help us because this is the very legislation that has left horseriders with access to only seven percent of coastal rights of way, and agri-environmental schemes can only provide a very limited amount of temporary access for equestrians. 

Highway authorities’ resources for maintenance and improvement of public rights of way are bound to be diluted while the new coastal access is brought in, as happened with the Open Access rights, so equestrians will suffer doubly if we are not included in the new coastal access. 

Every MP will be able to vote on this matter.  Whether you are an English, Northern Irish, Scottish or Welsh MP, your support is invaluable to us.  Please will you press for the new access rights to the English Coast to include equestrians?

Yours sincerely

Printable Form click here

Junior Championships Escrick Park

Kelly Wilson achieved 4th in her class at the Junior Championships.
Well done Kelly

The marathon

An Obstacle

Presentation

New Poacher Harness Club Website  is Launched

This month we have launched the new look website which is designed to take us up a level of communication, it should last another few years. Hopefully we will be able to keep you informed of forthcoming events, as well as start times and the inevitable results and reports.

Poacher Harness Club in the News

This month the Club is mentioned in three magazines. Equestrian Life has an Article about Sue Smith and Christine Hill. There are also reports on the Beelsby and Willingham Events, complete with pictures of Poacher members.

In Carriage Driving Magazine we have a report on the Beelsby Swiss Derby event along with pictures.

In Harness magazine has a report on the Swinderby Mini event, we missed the copy date for the last two but they may go on the magazine website, if Fiona gets time to update it.

If you can write a report on the next event I will try and get it published in at least one of the above. Send me pictures and they will be sent in with the article.

Post AGM Update

Following our AGM on 10th November the new committee has been elected. You can see who they are at a glance by going to The Committee link on the left.

We have appointed a Poacher President for the first time, who will serve for 3 years. This post will provide a non–elected figurehead for the club and provide a sense of continuity for club members and the public. The first President will be Mrs. Sheila Brookes, who was chosen for her long standing commitment and service to the club and carriage driving in general.

Sheila is also part of the Local Access Forum who are working tirelessly to secure safe off road routes for riders and drivers across Lincolnshire by resurrecting old and often disused bye–ways and tracks. They have already secured 50 miles and hoping to attain 150 miles route in the near future.