Horse access to the beach

[I'd rather be riding]

Putting a nappy on a horse, personally I think, would restrict the natural movement in it's hindquarters and hind legs. No horse takes kindly to being restricted in any way shape or form. But then again I wouldn't expect any non horsey person to know that.

Come on, surely you can come up with a better suggestion than that. I mean what will you be wanting next eh? Asking that farmers issue their hundred + head of cows with nappies so that they don't poo on the road if they have to cross to get from field to milking parlour???? Get real.

[Lilacbabe]

It strikes me that if the legislators of the Cayman Islands (as described by MPR) made a law to require horses to wear 'nappies' (whatever they are) when being exercised on their beaches then neither they nor those who elected them thought it was ridiculous. Presumably they thought there was a big enough problem to require such a law. As for such measures not being required of dogs, perhaps the scale of the problem makes it unnecessary in their case. You only need a wee bag to pick it up.

They were probably made to wear them as they would have been several rides out per day ( say 3or 4) with more than a coulpe of horses at a time therefor on the beach most of the day . It sound like it was a riding or trekking centre catering for the holiday makers so may have been more than a couple of poos produced throughout the day hence the nappies

No sign of nappies here

http://www.cayman-horse-rides.com/Photos_FDEX.php
or here
http://www.csstables.com


and no hats and not a lot of clothes on either but we will promise to wear hats and clothes so don't worry about under dressed riders !!!
Stll not convinced that the beach wont be covered in poo and That we wont spoil your picnics are you ??

[LANDROVER ROGER]

If washable nappies are to be used,great care should be taken when putting the safety pin through,especially when applying one to a Stallion. Would any urine fouling by horses come under the"auspices"of any legislation?

[argyllie]

Emmm Horses trash the place ????

No, I don't mean horses and their owners.

Oh I cant get on the beach I really fancied riding there too !!! I Can only ride on the road at the moment well I better sell her then ??? How drolle

No I didn't say that either. If you actually bothered to read what I said........... but you obviously haven't so to repeat , I don't agree with the gated access at Westport being increased in any way as I believe it would give way to even more abuse of a beautiful Site of Special Scientific Interest by people using motorised vehicles.

I thought I read on the forum a while back that the private landowners / farmers only own the beach as far as the high tide mark. Does anyone know if that is correct ? Whenever I've seen horses on a beach, they tend to be near the water, which would mean they were not on the landowner's part of the beach. Just an observation.

Glenn, in this case and I understand some others in Kintyre, the private ownership goes down to the low water mark. This isn't the issue however, it is Lilacbabe and I'd rather be riding whose shiny new big gate would be higher up on the privately owned property and paid for by the landowner, who presumably doesn't feel the need for it or they would have put one there in the first place.

[I'd rather be riding]

Argyllie you don't agree with gated access because it means that motorised vehicles will use the beach. Exactly...........your issue is not with horse access to the beach, it's vehicular access to the beach which is against the law. Horse riding on a beach is not. Maybe you should start up another thread on that topic. AND if it bothers you that much then why not report any instances of vehicles being on the beach to the Police then?

Stop pointing the finger at myself and Lilacbabe, making out that we're causing problems for landowners by demanding gates. I'd pay for the blinkin' gate myself if it meant we could have access. As I have stated before in my quotes from the land reform act horse riders have every right as pedestrians do to beach access and that's it. We didn't make up the rules so maybe you could go a bit easier on us please? You stated previoulsy that if I wasn't happy with the places I had to ride then why have a horse............well the same can be said for you. If you're not happy with horses accessing Westport then why don't you use another beach???

You are obvioulsy quite a regular beach user so can I ask why you've never moaned about me riding at Westport before............or Machrihanish, Dunaverty, Carskiey, Bellochantuy or Killegreur? I've ridden at all of those beaches. Peninver beach is used for regular horse access from the trekking centre and it has never been an issue before.

Also, just an observation............how are wheelchair users meant to access Westport beach if there's only a kissing gate?

[katya]

A couple of valid points there I'd rather be riding - I also thought of the many years the various trekking centres have been regularly using the beaches.
A few weeks ago there were 6 horses on Dunaverty beach for over an hour, and not one of them did the toilet while there. Although, 2 of them were swimming so I can't be sure they didn't widdle in the water...

[argyllie]

Argyllie you don't agree with gated access

Forgive me for having an opinion that differs from yours, I’m not pointing any fingers.
It strikes me that you are the one doing so, having found that you have no way round my more cogent argument than the “we don’t like horse poo” brigade. As I have already said, although I’m now losing count how often, I like horses and I’m not frightened of their poo , so why would I have “moaned about you riding at Westport before............or Machrihanish, Dunaverty, Carskiey, Bellochantuy or Killegreur” or Peninver for that matter?
The fact remains that I don’t agree with or see the need for changing the gated access at Westport. With all those lovely beaches that you’ve just reeled off that you can already ride on, why do you feel the need for a change in access at Westport?.

[I'd rather be riding]

Because as I have already stated before, we have a right of access just like you do as a pedestrian so that's why we would like to see it changed.

Sorry but I'm bowing out of this one now because as I said before to you argyllie we will just have to agree to disagree on this one. Maybe see you at the beach this weekend eh???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[argyllie]

Maybe see you at the beach this weekend eh???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why not! As you say, we'll have to agree to disagree.

[Govangirl]

Stop pointing the finger at myself and Lilacbabe

You know, this has nothing to do with me but I'm absolutely shocked at the posts on here. Surely there is nothing more attractive than some horses along a beach? Down here, I love it when the riders come on the beach and the mess that humans leave is a million times worse!! Every year when we go to Islay, my kids' highlight is going on a trek down to Machir Bay and some of my most treasured photos are of these times. So I know you are bowing out of this thread, ladies (and I don't blame you!) but you continue to enjoy the beach like everyone else and I hope the next time I visit Kintyre I am lucky enough to see you riding down the beach. Some folk on here don't get the utter irony of having hundreds of grotesque turbines on the future horizon yet spend precious time carping about horses on their beach! Sorry but get some priorities in order folks!!!!!!

[DENIS.THE.TRUE.MANC.]

Govan, where the angels carry flick-knives ! Alright GG (no pun intended); how many free tickets did Sir Alex give you for next week's Rangers' game at OT to post that thread for him ? I know you 2 go back a long way and that he's so passionate about horses, just as he is about United. And is it true that when he returned to your old school for the reunion, he asked them to re-mark his exam papers on the grounds that they'd not added enough time on at the end of the exam ?
And although I agree with your sentiments about the beauty of watching a horse in a canter along the shore, I also enjoy the debates on the forum where people give their honest outright views on the kissing-gate or the windfarm, or whatever. That is what makes the forum so great! If everyone talked about the same things and agreed with eachother the forum would not have got off the ground. Couldn't spare one of them tickets could you?

[Lilacbabe]

Oh I cant get on the beach I really fancied riding there too !!! I Can only ride on the road at the moment well I better sell her then ??? How drolle

No I didn't say that either. If you actually bothered to read what I said........... but you obviously haven't so to repeat , I don't agree with the gated access at Westport being increased in any way as I believe it would give way to even more abuse of a beautiful Site of Special Scientific Interest by people using motorised vehicles.

But they would be breaking the law if they took their motorised vehicles on to the beach ! again have a look at the Outdoor Access Scotland Act . Where as Horses would not be so it would be up to the landowners to perhaps contact the police and let them deal with that . So far no anyone who has taken a vehicle on to the beach has not been told they cant so perhaps as well as a gate for the horses ( which does not need to be shiny or new ,as long as it is a functional one we horsey folk are not fussy)Perhaps a sign saying NO UNAUTHERISED VEHICLES ALLOWED ON THE BEACH Simples

Glenn, in this case and I understand some others in Kintyre, the private ownership goes down to the low water mark. This isn't the issue however, it is Lilacbabe and I'd rather be riding whose shiny new big gate would be higher up on the privately owned property and paid for by the landowner, who presumably doesn't feel the need for it or they would have put one there in the first place.[/quote]

As stated before it does not matter whether or not the landowner feels the need for a gate for horses by law there needs to be one through Outdoor Access Scotland Act 2003 !

[Ags]

While I am totally against the proposed wind turbines on Machrihanish beach and also against loads of cars on the beach I think there is nothing nicer than seeing horses and their riders trotting along at the waters edge. Both the horses and the poo are a natural sight and unlike some of the car drivers and motorbikes which tear up the beach at excessive speed, I have never yet seen a horse and rider travelling on the beach at anything more than a trot.

[Lilacbabe]

Argyllie you don't agree with gated access

Forgive me for having an opinion that differs from yours, I’m not pointing any fingers.
It strikes me that you are the one doing so, having found that you have no way round my more cogent argument than the “we don’t like horse poo” brigade. As I have already said, although I’m now losing count how often, I like horses and I’m not frightened of their poo , so why would I have “moaned about you riding at Westport before............or Machrihanish, Dunaverty, Carskiey, Bellochantuy or Killegreur” or Peninver for that matter?
The fact remains that I don’t agree with or see the need for changing the gated access at Westport. With all those lovely beaches that you’ve just reeled off that you can already ride on, why do you feel the need for a change in access at Westport?.

1/Because we want to
2/Because its a very large, long beach
3/Because it is the nearest beach to where our horses are kept
4/Because we could ride to Machrihanish beach from there ( perhaps stop for a wee drink at the pub )
5/Because its usually flat and has nice firm sand so we can school our horses
6/Because we can ride there without having to take them there in a trailer
7/Because I have not got a trailer
8/Because We like that beach
9/Because holiday makers who take their horses to stay at our stables could go there

[Lilacbabe]

Also, just an observation............how are wheelchair users meant to access Westport beach if there's only a kissing gate?

Very good point there