Dear Members,Well we seem to have had a Summer of extremes - heat, flies and rains. Somehow the prediction of an August even hotter than July didn’t materialise, but that didn’t seem to deter the hoards of flies that made life difficult for both horses and riders. Still, as the nights draw in and winter looms we shall no doubt remember the long sunny days rather than the inconvenience of flies and rain!We are organising varying speakers for the Autumn/ Winter/Spring programme so please put the following meeting dates in your diaries.

Meetings will be at The Globe, Wardle and will start at 8pm. There is ample parking available. We hope that with the reduced number of meetings you will be able to give us your support.

Monday 16th October  -  David Haigh, who is Lead Auditor with the British Safety Council and also an International BSJA Judge will talk to us about health and safety issues in stables – both Livery Yards and private establishments - and the potential dangers that affect both horses and owners. This should be a most informative and useful talk and David will illustrate his talk with slides. He will also give us an insight into the interesting life of a BSJA Judge!

Monday 11th December  -  Shelley, from Global Herbs, will talk to us about their extensive product range. She will provide advice on horse nutrition and will be open to any questions and …… there is the possibility of freebies !! This will also be our Christmas get-together.

Monday 5th February – Simon Constable Following tradition, Simon has again agreed to come and speak to us and answer questions. This meeting will also be our AGM.

There are also several other things we need to update you with that the Committee have been addressing over the Summer months.

So watch this space!! Any ideas for info on the web site will be appreciated.We have had meetings with Stephen Jones, the new part-time Countryside Ranger based at Watergrove, who has been most helpful and receptive to concerns/ideas we have raised.

• The water trough at Watergrove – Vandals removed covers from the water inlet/outlet pipes which caused a great deal of damage to pumps and affected the water supply for the Visitor Centre. Stephen has now replaced the damaged parts and has made the trough as vandal proof as possible. If anyone sees vandals causing damage please inform Stephen or the police.
• State of Bridleway (Higher Slack Brook area) – The storms caused havoc with both the tracks and the waterfalls/bridge in this area. Contractors have been organised to re-stone tracks where necessary and to clear the blockages around the bridge. If there are any other particularly bad areas of track that you are aware of will you please let us know.
• Tiger Traps/Gates – Several people had reported difficulty in negotiating three recently erected traps/gates - one by the Memorial Gardens, one at Ramsden Clough and the other on the Brown Wardle side of the flat fields (Lobden Moor). According to the Access Officer for Calderdale these apparently are illegal and are due to be replaced as a matter of urgency. It seems there can be a tiger trap followed within an enclosed minimum distance, by a gate, but not a tiger trap and gate together.
• Jumping Field – Over the last few years this field has unfortunately fallen into disrepair. We intend to explore the possibility of initially clearing the site and if viable, repairing/renewing fences. We will require volunteers for this task – especially anyone who has access to a heavy-duty petrol strimmer etc. Please let a member of the Committee know if you would be willing to help. Once renovated, the field will be securely locked and only paid-up WBW members will be allowed to use it. The field is a fantastic facility for us – we don’t want to lose it through neglect!

Paul Smith
We have decided on your behalf to send a framed picture to Paul as a thankyou for all his work for the Bridleways group over the years. The picture is by a local artist and is of the Watergrove area. We hope it will bring back many happy memories for Paul.

Pleasure Ride at Rivington Country Park (by kind permission of United Utilities)
Sunday morning, 1st October 2006
BHS Members – £7  non-members - £10
I know this is very short notice, but there are still a few places available, so if you are interested  it will be well worth the journey.
BHS Members will probably have received this information in the Greater Manchester Newsletter. For those of you who aren’t members here are some details.
More information can be obtained either from me or from : Lynn Phillips BHSAI (Regd), Swan Stables, 474 Manchester Road, Blackrod, Bolton BL6 5SU. Tel. 07718 389895. Please state your BHS membership number and/or contact details. Please advise if riding with friends (list names) so you can be allocated to the same group.

• Riders will be set off in small groups following a route (maps provided) with stewards at strategic points
• Approximately 2 hours of fantastic scenery along bridleways – No roadwork!
• Suitable for all
• Rosette on completion
• High visibility clothing recommended
• Refreshments available near to parking
• Ample parking for trailers/boxes

Having personally ridden this area many times, I can highly recommend it.

Horsewatch Bulletin

The purpose of this scheme is to co-ordinate information around the country in order to combat potential or actual crime. This might be lost or stolen horses, stolen vehicles/trailers/boxes, stolen tack and anything suspicious – either people or vehicles - that people have noted in their area.

Equine related crime does seem to be on the increase recently in our area so if there is anything of this nature that you are aware of and wish to add to the bulletins, or if you would be interested in receiving such information on a regular basis, then please let either myself or Angela Sams know.
The message from Horsewatch is:
‘Micro chipping is not a visible deterrent for horses whereas freeze branding is.
Micro chipped tack is harder to identify and a chip reader is necessary to read the number. In contrast, your post code is easy to spot and does not come with an annual fee!! Make sure all your property is marked and locked away. Take your tack home if you can before someone else takes it for you!
Remember: STAMP IT,CHIP IT,CODE IT, MARK IT – OR LOSE IT!’

Horse riding in cycle lanes and cycle tracks

Information from TRACKS magazine April 2006 which may be of interest.‘The British Horse Society’s Access and Safety Departments have obtained a barrister’s opinion as to whether or not riders could be prosecuted for riding in cycle lanes and cycle tracks. Barrister Mary Macpherson stated that a horse rider who rides in a cycle lane or cycle track created by a traffic regulation order will not be committing an offence. She also advised that a horse rider who rides on a cycle lane created under the Cycle tracks Act 1984 will not be committing an offence. However, they could be liable to prosecution if the rider causes an obstruction on the cycle lane or if they disturb the unmade surface of a cycle path so as to render it inconvenient for cyclists to use. The Department for Transport has confirmed that riders will not be committing an offence by using a bus or cycle lane. The Highway Code is due to be revised this year and the Department for Transport has assured the BHS that it will be amended to reflect this position. This does not apply in London!’
Finally, in view of increasing postal charges, We intend to send this newsletter by email to as many people as possible and it will also be put on our website. To date I only have email addresses for ten members. If yours is not one of them will you please email me with your details asap. enquiries@wardlebridleways.com

Sorry this has been so lengthy but there seemed to be a lot to tell you. I hope some of it is useful.

Hope to see you all at the meeting on the 16th October

Regards

Mel