British Horse Society Ride for Access

The British Horse Society (BHS) is encouraging riders and carriage drivers throughout the UK to hold a BHS ‘Ride for Access’ to raise money for the Access Fighting Fund.

The Access Fighting Fund was set up in 2007, after a fight to save a bridleway in Oxfordshire left the BHS with a bill for £30,000 costs.

BHS Director of Access, Safety and Welfare Mark Weston, said: “Horse riders only have access to 22 percent of the public rights of way network, while carriage drivers only have access to five percent. “It is therefore imperative that we have the necessary funds to protect these rights of way, especially as these cases more often than not need to be defended either at court or at public inquiry.”

Ride organisers can get a Ride for Access pack by contacting The British Horse Society headquarters. The packs include information to help publicise their event, raise funds and invite others to join in. Although the focus of these rides will be the BHS Access Week, the rides can be organised at any time during the year to raise money for the Fighting Fund.

The British Horse Society’s Access Week runs from 16 – 26 May during which BHS staff and volunteers run events to raise awareness of equestrian access issues.

For further information, or to obtain a Ride for Access pack, please contact: Hannah Brown, Access Executive, The British Horse Society on 01926 707813 or h.brown@bhs.org.uk

March 31^st 2008

• Spirit of Badminton Photo Wall 2008
• The Chelsea Pageant
• The Exmoor Golden Horseshoe Ride
• Master Class with William Fox-Pitt and Tina Cook
• The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials 2008
• British Riding Clubs in Scotland Weekend Extravaganza
• Shetland Pony Celebrations – August 2009
• Monty supports Ride For Five Charity Dinner
• 2008 British Open Show Jumping Championships at the NEC
• Arley Horse Trials 2008
• Operation Esther to the rescue – again
• The Fun Ride Season 2008 is nearly here