Report - Appendix I: Where do they ride?

Appendix I:   Tourism in the South East

Unpublished data collected for the Countryside Agency found that 77% of riders in the countryside use rights of way. No data is available on the extent of carriagedriving on rights of way but carriage-drivers are only permitted on RUPPS (Roads Used as Public Paths) or by-ways so overall usage will be low.

The 1996 National Equestrian Survey suggests that about 60% of privately-owned horses are ridden at least once a week on public bridleways or byways.

Figures collected for the 1998 UK Leisure Day Visits Survey suggests that woodland can offer riding opportunities. East Sussex is a well-wooded county, probably contributing to the higher proportion of riders in the region.

Table AI.4: Horse-riding as the main mode of transport on a day visit

	Percentage of all trips
All trips (England)	Less than 0.5%
Country (England)	1%
Woodland visits (GB)	4%

UK Leisure Day Visits Survey 1998

Nationally, very few horse riders (5%) have horses stabled at home so most have to travel (80% of them by private vehicle) to ride. This proportion appears higher in East Sussex (see survey)

Table AI.5: Means of getting to the countryside to go horse-riding

	% of horse-riders
By private vehicle	80%
On foot	9%
Started from home	5%
By public transport	3%
By other means	3%

Use and demand of rights of way: Entec, unpublished study for the Countryside Agency, 2001

No question was asked about transporting horses to the start of a ride, but focus groups that informed the study did explore this issue. There are concerns over the security of the horsebox, when parked, as well as the well-being of the horse when travelling frequently. Parking is a key issue. It is also to be noted that boxing and unboxing the horse at the start and end of the activity adds considerably to the time taken for the activity (typically adding around an hour).

Once mounted, the average distance travelled on horseback in the countryside is relatively short and appears low, given the speeds that horses are capable of travelling at. The figure may be distorted by their high use of open spaces (see chapter 4). However it may also be that activity is curtailed by the limitations imposed by the network of riding opportunities.

Table AI.6: Distance travelled while horse-riding in the countryside

	% of horse-riders
Less than 1 mile	5%
1 mile but less than 2	22%
2 miles but less than 5	35%
5 miles but less than 10	26%
10 miles or more	1%
It varies each time	4%
Don’t know	8%
Average distance travelled	4.1 miles

Use and demand of rights of way: Entec, unpublished study for the Countryside Agency, 2001