Access and bridleways advice | The British Horse Society

Advice notes

Advice notes are checked at least once a year. If you have an advice note which is not listed here, it will have been superseded or renamed. If you cannot find the topic, contact access@bhs.org.uk (or phone 02476 840515). Please also contact the Access team for any topic not covered.

Councils or contractors are most likely to find help under Structures and surfaces.

What you may find on bridleways and byways

Other pages on potential hazards

Riding out

Researching and recording bridleways and byways

Find out more about unrecorded rights of way on Project 2026.

Changes to bridleways

Structures and surfaces

Most of the advice here is aimed at councils and others responsible for maintenance and provision of equestrian access.

There are no 'BHS approved' structures or surfaces. Approval is always site-dependent. The Society's advice here is generalised, based on optimum for most equestrians and horses and strongly recommends it be consulted for specific circumstances. Horses and their riders or drivers vary considerably in size, agility, character and preference, however, the Society's advice aims to be inclusive of all, even if individuals have different opinions.

Surfaces

Structures

Including horses

Other factors affecting horses

Other publications

BHS Equestrian Access Strategy

Our Equestrian Access Strategy aims to enable every horse rider and carriage driver to be able to ride or drive from their stable onto a safe network of off-road paths, and until that time, to be able to access those safely via the road network.

Equestrian Access Strategy 2025

Memorandum of Understanding

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is an agreement between two or more parties that has been formally documented. An MOU is not necessarily a legally binding document. Signing of the MOU document signifies the intention and willingness of the involved parties to work collaboratively, towards the mutually identified goals and expectations within the MOU.

MOU between BHS and Sustrans (August 2024)

Research and reports

Some of these reports are now some years old but their content remains relevant and pertinent.

Lobbying and political activity

The Society represents equestrians nationally about public rights of way and access. This means engagement with government business through various stakeholder groups and bodies such as Natural England and Natural Resources Wales, Forestry England and highways agencies. It includes lobbying ministers where appropriate and asking for questions in Parliament.

Lobbying activity

Project 2026 and the repeal of the 2031 cut-off date
26 December 2024

Volunteers will hopefully have seen or heard about the unexpected but very welcome announcement on Boxing Day, that the Government intends to repeal the cut-off date currently due to take effect on 1st January 2031. Of course, we have been here before as the previous administration also said it would do the same only to change its mind less than a year later. However, we remain optimistic that the stated intention will be given effect through new primary legislation. Nonetheless, our advice to all our volunteers engaged in this is to keep going with the hard work – cut-off date or not, the best way to protect these routes from obstruction, development or neglect is to get them recorded by making a DMMO application. A copy of Defra’s press release can be read here. The BHS press release can be read here.

Letters to Ministers & Stakeholders

Letters to Ministers

Letters to Stakeholders

Responses

Letter from Minister dated 8/2/24

APPG Evidence

APPG Evidence

Template letters for you to send to your MP

There are currently no template letters at this time. Check back in due course to see what activity you can support us with.

Be sure about bridleways

Learn more about bridleways and byways on our training days

You can help with our important work to defend bridleways and byways and to ensure equestrians are considered as vulnerable road users and included in all provisions for safe access, on and off road. Find out more about your rights and how to help by joining one of our virtual training days. All you need are a few hours and an internet connection.

Access and rights of way training

Advice on bridleways and other access