General Information
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THE AIMS OF
EAST ANGLIAN FARM RIDES
EAFR was founded in Essex in January 1989 by a farmer Robert Bunting and
businessman Nigel Dyson, who were concerned about the appalling number of
accidents on the roads involving horses. Traffic increases forecast only mean
the situation becoming much worse unless something entirely innovative was done
to alleviate the problems riders face. For this reason East Anglian Farm Rides
was started.
Hacking in this country is enjoyed by millions of riders who use public
bridle-paths and by-ways. The problem facing the majority of riders, however, is
that in order to complete a safe circular ride they invariably have to use many
dangerous roads to link each bridle-path. In many cases there are simply no
bridle-paths at all within any easy ride of the stable, meaning riders have to
ride on the busy roads or trespass on Private Farmland.
Long ago, public bridle-paths, and indeed roads, were simply a means of
traversing from A to B. These paths were not used for pleasure purposes to the
extent they are these days. County Council’s, have the main responsibility for
the surfaces of bridle-paths, and are now beginning to allocate resources to
maintain them. However, with all the pressures they are under to provide other
social services, new bridle-paths are going to be low on the list of priorities.
There is, therefore, tremendous pressure now on farmers and landowners to
respond to this demand for further access to the countryside. The problem is,
who will pay for establishing new routes? Farmers must be compensated for giving
up income producing land and for the obvious intrusion of privacy.
Many farmers have already responded to this demand by opening up horse routes on
their land, but have found the initial costs of putting in gates and bridges,
let alone cross country courses as an added attraction, are high. Then they have
the problems of promoting the rides to local riders and managing the scheme. The
fees they have to charge have been high. Riders don't seem to be flocking to
join these independent schemes, firstly because of the cost and secondly, unless
the route is very close to their stable, they will have to use horse transport.
Finally, there is the feeling that routes on one farm quickly become boring.
The overall aims of EAFR are, therefore, to provide a regional network of safe
off-road riding routes, with possible linking to existing public bridle-paths,
and in areas where there are no bridle-paths establishing safe riding routes.
REPLIES TO OUR CRITICS
Some people have said they are not happy about our scheme, because it takes the
pressure off local authorities to improve public bridle-paths. We feel. on the
contrary, that the same authorities will, in fact, be under more pressure,
because more riders will be able to reach previously unreachable bridle-paths,
since most toll rides link with the public network, meaning the Councils will
have to maintain these Public Rights of Way Better.
We have also been accused of being elitist, because we charge the rider for
using our rides. But how many Leisure Centres (built at great public expense)
can you get into without paying? It costs £5 for a swim, or a game of tennis,
but we offer a weeks riding for only £3.
Finally, the public bridle-paths will suffer less damage overall, because
instead of all the horses being restricted to what few bridle-paths there are,
they will be spread over more miles of riding routes.
LOCAL AGENTS AND ROUTE MARSHALS
We are now starting to allocate local agents, who are responsible for initiating
the scheme in their area. A local agent needs a good knowledge of their area in
hacking terms and be willing to negotiate with farmers, opening up and marking
routes and keeping in touch with riders in their locality.
IF THERE IS NO ROUTE IN YOUR AREA, WHY NOT CONSIDER BECOMING A LOCAL AGENT?
Full assistance and guidance is given. All expenses are reimbursed and free
licence once the scheme is established in your locality.
LICENCE FEES
ADULTS - £13.00 per month (Standing Order)
- £130.00 yearly rate
YOUNG PERSONS - £11.00 per month (Standing Order)
(18 years and under) - £110.00 yearly rate
families or groups.
Each horse must be ridden by someone wearing an armband, but we do offer special
rates on request from
The licence fees paid also entitle you to use any of the routes open elsewhere
in the UK by members of the English Associates of Farm Rides, existing routes
are open in Kent, Surrey, and Sussex and near Bristol.
There are no additional cap fees each time you ride. You receive an armband the
colour of which will change annually.
THE FARMERS FUND
At the end of each 'Licence Year' 31st March, the fees collected on behalf of
farmers are divided up on a pro-rata basis and 70% is paid out according to the
distance of each route on each farm. Last year we paid farmers £152 per mile,
(20% higher than the year before) and we hope this will rise steadily in years
to come to make it worth their while and easier for us to persuade new farmers
to join the scheme.
The 30% retained by EAFR for fees we use to pay for: Armbands, Signs, Way
markers,
Maps, Insurance, Postage, Photocopying, Telephone, Local Agents Expenses and so
on.
FRIENDS OF EAFR
If you find that there are no routes near you yet, we urge you to join as a
'FRIEND OF EAFR'. For just £3 a year we will send you all our Newsletters and
keep you informed, about new routes, and other events such as our twice a year
Sponsored Rides.
MAPS AND ROUTES DESCRIPTION
The routes description and/or newsletter sent with this guide is only intended
as a guide to where routes are. The best way of finding out about routes is
obviously to look at a map. The cost of producing maps is very high so we cannot
send them out to non-members, these are sent out with your armband.
SIGNS AND WAY MARKING
At the entrance/exit of all rides we put up a sign to emphasise the fact that
you are entering private property and to deter riders who are not members of the
scheme. Along each route will be 4" square arrows at every change of direction.
Please keep to the marked routes and where they follow a headland (field edge)
keep to the edge. If riding fast around a field keep your horse under strict
control to avoid straying into the cultivated part. If you do not know the
difference between grass and seeded field then find out fast.
BOX AND TRAILER PARKS
Box parks are marked up on route maps and sent out to members. Any queries
please contact us.
WET WEATHER
In wet weather some routes will have to be closed or diverted. If damaged a
route may take a long time to recover. So kindly are asked to avoid riding on
'heavy' land when it is wet.
CLOSED ROUTES
All routes are closed on Christmas Day, and landowners have the right to close
routes on other day, for example, for shooting or hunter trials. We try to give
details in the newsletters. Occasionally, a farmer may need to close a field for
spraying crops, or during harvest and we obviously cannot expect him to give us
notice for this. He will put a notice on the 'Private Property' sign for that
day only.
INSURANCE
Before applying for a licence you must make sure you have adequate public
liability cover, you will normally find you are covered if you a member of BHS,
Pony Club or a Riding Club. EAFR insurance policy for each rider does not and
cannot cover your responsibilities.
FUTURE SUCCESS OF THE SCHEME IS UP TO YOU - THE RIDERS
Having worked on the scheme for almost 10 years, we sincerely believe that this
is the ONLY way to improve our hacking in this country, on a regional basis. Not
only do we need you send us names of farmers our Local Agents could contact, but
the success of the scheme depends on how you use it. Many people ask how we
'police' the scheme:
1. By each rider having to sign a legally binding Code of Conduct.
2. Riders MUST wear his/hers individually numbered armband at all times.
3. The farmers and other riders will be watching you - carefully.
4. Please look out for potential trouble. After all if you have paid for the
pleasure of riding off the roads you won't want to risk losing a route or the
entire network.
5. Local Agents and Route Marshals will also keep a watchful eye they especially
have put a lot of time and effort in, to get their routes.
6. Anyone found abusing routes or lending and armband will lose the right to his
or her licence and forfeit the fees.
Finally we would like to say a very big thank you to all farmers and landowners
who agreed to open up routes over the years. We have been encouraged by their
response and will now endeavour the scheme both in areas already running and in
totally new areas.
IF THERE IS ANY FURTHER INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE OR NEED ANY ADVICE ON THE
POINTS MADE ABOVE OR WOULD LIKE TO BECOME AN AGENT PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO
CONTACT:
Office 01206 251790 - DAY TIME
01376 570334