Leisure riding: hacking out, bridleways and beaches

Hacking out

For many riders, hacking out (riding out for pleasure, on or off road) is part of the weekly routine. The British Horse Society (BHS) points out it's a good way to work on your horse's fitness, and good for your own health too. Whether you ride on the road or off it, you need to know your rights and your responsibilities.

Where you can ride

England and Wales

The BHS lists where you can legally ride:

• All roads except motorways.
• Some public rights of way, shown on Ordnance Survey maps:

On a bridleway, cyclists should give way to walkers and riders.

• Some commons and cycle routes, and designated rides in public open spaces.
• Concessionary or permissive routes, and permit or toll rides.
• Beaches and estuaries, subject to bylaws and conservation restrictions.

The legal record of public rights of way is the Definitive Map, kept by each county or unitary council; search online for your county and "Definitive Map". Ordnance Survey maps show the same routes, but any map may be out of date, and unrecorded routes aren't shown at all.

Scotland

Access in Scotland works differently. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 created a statutory right of access over most land and inland water, as long as you use it responsibly as set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. The BHS stresses that this isn't a free right to roam anywhere. For riders, responsible access includes:

• keeping clear of land management work such as ploughing or tree felling
• riding slowly past livestock, and leaving gates as you find them
• getting permission before jumping hedges, fences, walls or gates, or using gallops
• not riding on boggy, wet or soft ground, or churning up paths and fields
• giving way to others: the people you meet may be elderly, disabled or frightened of horses

Northern Ireland

The BHS says safe off-road riding in Northern Ireland is extremely limited compared with mainland Britain.

Finding routes

• Ordnance Survey maps. The 1:25,000 Explorer maps (orange covers) are the easiest to follow, and show field boundaries. Promoted routes, shown with diamonds, are usually more than a day's ride.
• BHS Ride Maps: free short and long-distance routes. Check them before you ride, as conditions can change.
• Local knowledge. The BHS has more than 300 volunteer access and bridleways officers, and local equestrian access groups that know the routes in their area.

If a gate on a route is unsafe, the BHS advises reporting it to your local authority.

Before you set out

The BHS's checklist for hacking out:

• Know the rules. Be up to date on the Highway Code, and read the Countryside Code for your country.
• Be seen. Wear hi-vis, ideally on you and your horse, visible from above as well as front, back and sides. The BHS also recommends LED lights. See Safety for riders.
• Take a phone, charged before you go, and tell someone where you're going and how long you'll be.
• Know your route. Check the map before trying a new one.
• Useful extras: a folding hoof pick and some baling twine. A leather headcollar under the bridle, with a lead rope clipped to the saddle, is handy if you need to get off and lead.

The Countryside Code's message, as the BHS sums it up: be considerate to the people who live and work in the countryside, leave gates and property as you find them, don't block gateways when parking, follow local signs, take your litter home, and care for nature.

Gates

Being able to open and close a gate from the saddle is an essential skill for off-road hacking. Before you try, your horse should stand still while you lean forward and down either shoulder, move forwards, backwards and sideways off your aids, and turn on the forehand both ways. A helper on foot, or a confident friend and horse, makes the first few gates easier.

The BHS recommends "heels to hinges": stand your horse parallel to the gate with its head away from the hinges, so your heels face them. It gives you the most control and stops tack catching on the gate or latch.

• Look first: is there livestock in the field?
• Keep a hand on the gate if you can. Never fling it open: it can swing back and hit you or your horse.
• Leave it as you found it, and check the latch is secure before riding away.
• Self-closing gates can shut quickly and frighten or hit a horse. If you can, watch how fast one closes before you ride through.

Riding on the beach

A ride on the beach can be wonderful, but the BHS's advice is to check first:

• Is riding allowed? Check the local council's website. There may be bylaws, or limits on the days, times or areas you can ride.
• Tide times. Avoid high tide, and watch for areas the incoming tide can cut off.
• Parking. Look out for height barriers if you're bringing a trailer or horsebox.
• The ground. Walk where you plan to ride before trotting or cantering: watch for soft sand, holes, sandcastles, rocks, deep pools and debris.
• Wildlife and people. Keep away from dunes, salt marshes and feeding birds, keep to a walk past other beach users and dogs, and don't pass people at speed.
• The sea. Some horses are nervous of water and waves. Ride in at an angle rather than head on, and remember that horses find it hard to turn when swimming.

Afterwards, wash the sand and salt water off your tack, especially the metalwork, which can rust.

When things go wrong

Frequently reported incidents, the BHS says, involve cyclists, runners, dogs, livestock, bird scarers, low-flying aircraft, drones and slippery road surfaces. The BHS asks riders to report every incident, however minor, through its horse incident reporting service, so it can build the evidence for safer laws.