Forestry Commission Wales staff saddled up for action this week – to give them a better understanding of the issues facing horse riders in the woods.
Local area managers and FC Wales recreation staff swapped their forestry hard hats for riding helmets during an equestrian training and awareness event at Rheidol Riding Centre in Capel Bangor, near Aberystwyth on Thursday, November 11.
They took the reins to experience horse riding for themselves and to gain a better idea of people’s needs as a growing number discover the enjoyment of riding in the woodlands of Wales.
With 450 kilometres of bridleways and 50 kilometres of carriage driving routes in Assembly Government woodlands, it was important to know how to safely integrate horse riding with other woodland recreation pursuits, such as walking and mountain bike riding.
FC Wales Visitor Management Advisor Dave Liddy, who organised the event in conjunction with British Horse Society, said most of the Assembly Government’s woodlands were freely available to horse riders.
“It’s a long time since I rode horses as a teenager,” he said.
“During my liaison work between FC Wales and equestrian users of the forest, I began to see how useful it would be to get our managers to experience some of the horse riding issues for themselves to really focus their attention on this user group.”
With woodlands offering wide-ranging and exciting opportunities for recreation, it was important for FC Wales staff to know how to manage any potential conflict between different groups, said Dave.
When Rheidol riding centre owner Iola Evans offered to help, it provided an ideal opportunity for FC Wales staff to get to grips with the issues surrounding horse riding and to improve standards of equestrian access management in Welsh Assembly Government woodlands.
As well as the riding lessons, staff also spent time indoors gaining an appreciation of the importance of equestrians in Assembly Government woodlands and learning about the various equestrian organisations and user groups.
They were particularly interested in the demonstrations by Iola, where horses were shown to be sensitive wild animals with varied reactions to the different obstacles which might be found in woodlands.
They also discussed how to deal with enquiries from horse riders and carriage drivers in relation to such things as rights of way and learned about proposals for future equestrian developments.
Dave said, “We’re the largest land manager in Wales but none of our staff have much hands-on experience with horses. This was an opportunity to experience riding for themselves and to bring home some of the issues in a very real way.”
Felicity Wills of the British Horse Society said she was delighted to be involved and congratulated Forestry Commission Wales for organising the event.
She added, “Attendees went away with a far better understanding of the needs of horse riders and carriage drivers, combined with an awareness of how much money is generated into the Welsh economy from such usage.
“How better to understand these issues than having a go yourself?”
