Dear All
I would like to welcome all our new members. This year we have more members than we have
ever had before, maybe due to a few issues which have arisen and also the good
deal we get from Naylors and Horse-Bits, not to mention our fantastic
concessionary routes provided to us by United Utilities. Anyway, whatever the reason we are very
grateful as so far this year we have raised £805 just from memberships.
Bridleway News
·
Norden
Township Funds
We have recently be awarded approximately £2,062 from our Norden
Councillors’ Township Funds to use to improve bridleways within the Norden
area. We have already had the steps
improved on the Paperhouse River Crossing, new drains have been installed here
to hopefully keep them dry. The
remainder of the money is being used to improve the surface on the bridleway
which goes from the top of Meadownhead Lane towards Rough Lea Farm at Red Lumb
and to improve the drainage on the bridleway which goes from Rough Lea to
Ashworth Road which has been constantly wet for the last few years.
·
Buckhurst
The route through Buckhurst Farm
is still blocked. Evidence has been
submitted to Lancashire Council by Chris Peat of Forest of Rossendale
Bridleways Association but it could take a while to get it opened again.
·
Roods Lane (down by the old Three Owls Bird Sanctuary)
You may remember that last year the council turned up and put a kissing gate at
the top of Roods Lane. This would have
prevented any access for horses down the path at the side of the old Bird
Sanctuary leading to Woodtop (mile canter).
Luckily someone took it out before the concrete set and we swung into
action putting in evidence to claim the path right through to School Lane as a
bridleway.
So, what has happened since then, the Council said that the map we provided was
not good enough and provided another one, which we then re-submitted, then they
went astray. Copies have been provided
and after contacting Councillor Gartside the Rights of Way people wrote to 17
of the 34 evidence forms sent in saying the map wasn’t good enough. We are currently trying to get everything
back and start from scratch to get proper evidence and a proper map
together. We will be looking at this at
our March meeting which is an open forum.
This path is under threat because a member of the public complained
about horses using it so we need to act quickly.
·
Coronation
Power – wind Farm on Rooley Moor
Plans are being submitted to put
17 windmills on Rooley Moor. Apart from
the National Bridleway which runs up the middle of Rooley Moor there are
numerous tracks which have been ridden for years which may become inaccessible
if a windfarm is built here. Another big
issue is the disruption which will be caused by Rooley Moor Road being the main
access route for the wagons and other vehicles and machinery relating to the
windfarm. At the time of writing the
consultation exhibitions are in progress so we are planning to discuss this
further during the next month and at our March meeting.
·
Bridleways in
Ainsworth
Lesley Tierney (some of you will know her from Creature Comforts) has joined
the Committee to get some help in trying to get some bridleways opened in the
Ainsworth area. At the moment there are
100’s of horses but no bridleways.
Lesley is working with Irene Pope and have come up with a plan to put to
Bury Council. However, this is something
that is going to take a while and they would like anyone in that area who has
ridden some of the tracks to fill in evidence forms. They will be visiting livery yards in the
area to try to drum up some help and support.
Dates for Your Diary
We are
thinking or organising a trip to Southport probably on Sunday, 6th
April. For people with no transport we
can organise a wagon and the cost will be approximately £60 per horse. If you wish to come contact one of the
committee, it will be organised on a first come first served basis and payment
is required up front.
·
31st March – Open Forum
·
28th April - Pasture Management
·
19th May – to
be confirmed
·
30th June – Alpenhorn an evening with a bit difference, hopefully
outside,
·
28th July –
Endurance Riding
·
18th August –
Quiz
·
29th September –
Open Forum
·
27th October –
Racehorse Rehabilitation
·
24th November –
End of Year Party with a buffet supper and raffle.
All meetings start at 8.00 pm at the Pack Horse.
In addition to these we will
be holding some fund raising events, ie. A treasure hunt and maybe a Trec
training day.
Reviews
On Monday, 24th February Heather Hardy
came to speak to us about using horses as an aid to communication. She spoke to a packed house, it was
definitely standing room only. She
explained how they use horses to build confidence, self-awareness and lots of
other things. Take a look at the website
www.horseheard.com to find out more.
Website
Don’t forget the website is there for your use. If you have anything to sell we have a
classified page, if you have a story to tell we would love to hear from you or
photographs. We average between 150/200
hits per month some from the strangest places in the world. We also have a group on Facebook so join us
on there too for regular updates.
Membership Benefits
Just a reminder that with your membership card you
get a 10% discount at Naylors and Horse Bits.
You have access to two fantastic off road routes in Ashworth Reservoir
and Greenbooth Reservoir. If you would
like a key to get through you need to bring proof of third party insurance to a
meeting and sign the disclaimer form which lists all the rules within the concessionary
areas. Keys cost £10 and when we change
them you bring one key back and we will replace it with the new one. The disclaimer form is attached to this
letter as a reminder.
Reporting an Incident
Did you know that the BHS have a website specifically
for reporting incidents concerning horses, the address is www.horseaccidents.org.uk. You can report any kind of incident or near
miss involving anything from a mad dog to a Chinese lantern or a bird scarer to
a windmill, not to mention the roads. It’s
worth taking a look at the website anyway as its full of advice on how to keep
yourself safe whilst out hacking, either in the countryside or on the roads.
You know you are a
horseperson when:
-You cluck to your car when you go up a hill.
-Your horse's hair is in better condition than your own.
-You refer to your car as "my portable tack room".
-You are excited when your friend tells you that there is a huge sale at the
bridle shop, then you are disappointed when you realise they mean the bridal
shop.
-You have the vet's number but not your kid's pediatrician on your speed dial.
-Your spouse can track dirt into the house all they want, but God help them if
they muddy up the tack room.
-Your house is a mess, but the barn is as neat as a pin.
-Your nice clothes are the ones without horse hair all over them.
- Only horse people would spend hundreds of pounds on a show for a 2 quid rosette.
Barbara