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Carmarthenshire Riders

Newsletter 1

June 2006 Committee/Decision Makers

I would like to thank the members will be notified of bridleways. The MOD in riders who have agreed to be the meetings by email or by Partnership with the BHS • Want a local meet- decision makers for the phone if members do not are offering free Hi Viz ing? Can you offer a group. In addition Howard have an email address. tabards and sheets to those free venue? Give me Court is undertaking the riders requesting them. a call. 01269 843796 Meetings will not be Email [email protected] position of Treasurer and routinely held , unless with your name, address Linda Court () is requested by the members, and the size of your horse Membership Secretary. but consultation will be or call 01926 707737. Lucy Osborne()- made on line and by phone Preference will be given to Forum Moderator although we will have an those in flying areas. AGM once a year and the Jackie Watson () local group meetings. The next meeting will be Mandy Jones (Cynghordy) Updates will also be posted with the group. Anyone wishing Jamilah Samuel () on the forum at http:// carmsriders.clicdev.com . If to attend the meeting on Sarah Williams you havent joined please do the 17th July at 7.30. You (Llandybydder) so and check out what is will be very welcome.. Fox and Hounds PH at going on. Local events will Currently we have vacancies Bancyfelin. On a40 also be posted here. for a rep from Trelech/ towards , take and The first local group meeting the right turn to Carmarthen if anyone would Inside this issue: was held at Fairfach for Bancyfelin. Pub is near like to volunteer. riders in the area. the school. If you reach Carmarthenshire has been The issues raised at this the hospital you have meeting involved low flying Survey of all 1 divided into areas and gone too far. routes aircraft and lack of

What you can do 2 Survey of all Routes Slippery Tarmac 2 Many riders have been busy Currently, of the routes I be submitting an application surveying local byways, have had returned, there is for European and external Mountain Riding 3 bridleways and unclassified only 20% of the network funding to get a number of roads (UCR). If you wish to open and easy to use. We routes cleared/improved. be involved in this exercise have obtained an This is with a view to get a FC Open Access 3 please let me know. I have undertaking from the regional trans some more routes to be Highways Dept at C.C.C to Carmarthenshire promoted Map Reading 3 looked at. They must be look at maintaining the route created. We have to Event walked/ridden and not done byways and UCRs if funding do this by December . This from memory, the last time becomes available. is our opportunity to get you used the route. Following this survey we will things improved locally, don’t waste it! What can YOU do?

The membership of the , Carms, SA14 6SB. of bridleways that are open and Carmarthenshire Riders The Counct Council advertise available and those that are spreads across the whole of modification orders for public closed. Please check out the the county. Unfortunately we rights of way, including forum regularly. Members are unable to monitor all the bridleways, in the local without internet access will local news papers and newspapers. Please inform us receive a report on the status of community Mags for local if there are any reported in the network when the survey is news that affects riders. Please your area. Once these have complete to keep postal costs assist us by keeping us been approved they cannot be down. If anyone has any informed of any articles that opposed. unsurfaced highways or tracks appear that may impact or in their area it would assist if Come to the local meetings or riders or where there is an they could either email me or keep in touch by keeping us up opportunity for application to write to me giving a report on to date on issues that affect be made for consideration of their condition and whether you. improved routes. Postings can they are rideable. Most of be made on the forum at SURVEY these routes are marked as green dots on an Ordnance http//carmsriders.clicdev.com The results of the survey will Survey map although some are or you can send a copy to me be published on the forum in not. at Fernside, Black Lion Road, due course along with details

Reported in the Slippery Tarmac Carmarthen Journal At the original meeting in review its materials. and has been Cwmifor slippery tarmac was

acknowledged as a raised as an issue. The County Council have agreed to test Old tarmac is also an issue and problem by Street areas of new laid tarmac that is should also be brought to our Scene. proving dangerous with a view attention. If you are able to to top dressing it. Please describe clearly the location– inform us through the forum giving a serial number of a or by phone if you have any street light or a house name or new slippery tarmac in your number, or junction details, area. It is only by raising this this will assist the council in issue that the council will testing the right area.

Mountain Riding

We have had a meeting with ponies on the mountain for present possibly by way of a the Brecon Beacons National environmental benefit. notice as they are not there all Park (BBNP)as a result of a Therefore, even if a grazier year. Education seems to be query from a rider regarding does not have rights for the only solution in this stallions grazing on the Black ponies, they are prepared to situation and riders should stay Mountain. Enquires have issue written permission for as far away from grazing been made with the council their location. This means that ponies as possible. Commons Officer, Neil riders must be careful when in Evans, who keeps a register of mountain areas. I have written grazing rights in the County. to the Chairman of the In the Black Mountain area the Graziers asking if we can be BBNP is keen to encourage notified when the stallions are

Page 2 Carmarthenshire Riders Mountain Riding Cont..

The BBNP do not allow riders Stay quiet and observe their VENUE REQUIRED off the rights of way in the direction of travel. Generally they will keep moving. Wait park, although, where a rider We are Looking for a venue for a local meeting in the sees grazing ponies they can for them to move on or divert. Riding off the path can be /Trelech/Newcastle Emlyn area. Anyone able take what ever avoiding action dangerous so follow the small to offer a free venue please let me know. You can is necessary. This means sheep tracks which will avoid chose the date! taking a very wide berth and if bogs and marshy ground but you can tell the sex of a pony look out for rabbit holes. you are definitely too close. I Watch the ponies constantly. GROUP FUND RAISER am seeking advice from the Should a pony break away We are running a fund raiser for the group where graziers re suggested actions entrants are asked to send £1 per entry guessing the when coming across the from the group and take chase, move as fast as you can in the company logos provided. There will be one prize of a ponies and aim to publish an opposite direction to distance percentage of the funds raised. You do not have to advice sheet. yourself from the group. This guess all of the logos to enter as some are particularly may be basic advice but many difficult. Those with the same number correct will be Riders riding on any mountain pulled out of a hat. These logos will be emailed to area should use the riders have no experience of mountain riding and are group members with an email address and posted with undergrowth and hills in the unaware of the dangers that a this news letter to those that do not. Please support the land to avoid the ponies seeing stallion poses. There have group and have a go. Get your families to help you! them and stay at least been incidents and riders have Entries must be received by 30 July with £1 entry fee. 800metres away at all times. been seriously injured. Forestry Commission Open Access “Are there more places to ride than The Forestry Commission has the area and the car park is 0845 6040845 you think?” designated most of its land as considered too small for multi Pembrey is a restricted forest open access land under user parking. If any of these and access can be obtained on CROW 2000(there are restrictions cause you set paths and the beach by exceptions). This means that inconvenience I will take the paying £5 to Dave at the walkers can access it freely matter to the Forestry to see if riding school there. I have and do not need to keep to we can resolve it. spoken to him about footpaths. They have also Check out the Forestry producing a map and possibly given riders open access Commission web site for areas a marked route but this is still although there are some of small woodland under their under negotiation. restrictions on parking. control in your area. You have in Brechfa Forest free access in most of them. is one of those restricted areas. This can be checked by Cycle tracks have been laid in contacting the FC on Map Reading Event

At the start of this group such a large place with few still under discussion but will whilst talking to Ed Saunders land marks and a risk include some instruction to be at the Forestry Commission it nighmare, I decided to start read prior to attending the was suggested that riders need small and offer an event to event, some instruction some tuition involving maps as local riders/members and explaining the reading many undertake riding in the Pony/Riding Clubs. My provided and a short ride out forestry without a map and get intention is to introduce maps to put new found skills into lost and those reporting to the group with a view to practice. Maps will be problems cannot give suitable running an event at Pembrey. provided and riders will have map references to assist in the I have decided on to ride in 3s for safety. Clues maintenance of the routes. as I had hoped to get access to will be collected along the way Given that Brechfa Forest is the Black Mountain. This is for a quiz at the end for which

Newsletter 1 Page 3 Carmarthenshire Riders The Carmarthenshire Riders Group is representing the views of all riders

Fernside in Carmarthenshire in lobbying local and National government to provide Black Lion Road better and safe access for riders and to promote riders safety both on and Gorslas Carmarthenshire off road. This incorporates consultation in planning applications for SA14 6SB development of business premises, local leisure improvements and the road Phone: 01269 843796 network. It also includes issues such as road surfaces and the Email: [email protected] maintenance of all available routes for riding both for local exercise and to promote tourism and equestrian businesses in the County. Map Reading Event Cont... We are on the web at http:// there will be a prize. It is hoped that riders on 13th August 06. Application forms carmsriders.clicdev.com will, after the ride, be able to give a map enclosed must be returned to Karen Burch reference to report an obstruction to a Fernside, Black Lion Road, Gorslas, bridleway, know how rights of way are Carmarthenshire, SA14 6SB.with an SAE recorded on an OS map, have an idea of before 30 July. Please contact me well before then as if the interest is low it will distance between points and the terrain of the be cancelled. route, and how to follow a compass bearing. Cost will be £13 adult £10 child and Anyone wishing to ride with friends can includes membership of the chose their riding partners. Under 10s must Carmarthenshire Riders Group. (members be accompanied by an adult who will take deduct £3). responsibility for them. The ride will take place from Dynefwr Riding Centre, Other News Llandyfan, between Ammanford and Trap Talley Woods has paths available for non commercial riding, opposite the church, but no space for parking. Bridleway in Tumble Permissive routes currently being looked at in Talley and . I have just been informed that the riders from Capel Seion have just achieved the upgrading of a footpath in Tumble to a As a group we can only exist and be ef- bridleway. Congratulations to you all who fective if we have members. We have wrote a statement and did the running achieved much in the short time the around collecting evidence. It has taken a group has bee up and running. We have number of years and an appeal but we now established communication and respect have another bridleway. It runs from Cwm from a number of council departments, mawr, Tumble, on the bend leading to the Forestry Commission, National Park, Drefach. Powys Road Safety Department, Welsh Assembley, Community Councils and many other local groups. We are Thank you for your support and keeping the problems that riders have in I hope we can continue to be the spotlight by advertising in The Car- successful in obtaining safe riding marthen Journal, Welsh Rider, Horse magazine and local Community Newspa- in Carmarthenshire. pers. Do your bit by telling your friends about the group and encouraging new mem- bers. Our strength is the numbers we represent. Currently I have a list of inter- ested parties with over 100 names on it who have not joined the group. Most are waiting to see if its just another meeting or whether we can get things done. We can achieve if we stop complaining as individuals and work together. Contact me with local issues and we can fight them together.