THE NEED FOR PABA

The roads are becoming increasingly more dangerous to use particularly so for horses.

PABA  works to safeguard our rights to use bridleways and to keep them open for now and the future. We also work to create further permissive routes.

Bridleways are part of the public highway system and many are ancient roads laid down centuries ago. This heritage is threatened by modern road building, the spread of urban development and landowner's reluctance to keep them open.

OUR OBJECTIVES

We act as a watchdog and backup to Buckinghamshire County Council in the Penn and surrounding area:-

• Inspecting our bridleways with a view to improve maintenance and way marking
• Assisting the light clearing of overgrown and neglected bridleways
• Encouraging landowners to allow permissive and licensed routes for horses
• Increasing riders' awareness of their rights and responsibilites
• Reporting difficulties to the highway authorities
• Promoting better relations between riders and landowners
• Removing illegal obstructions
• Securing a voice in negotiations concerning diversions of bridleways
• Monitoring planning applications and to take steps to prevent encroachment onto bridleways
• Passing on information to our members via news letters and posting onb to our notice board at Penn Equine or our website
  

IMPLEMENTING OUR OBJECTIVES

• By asking members to contribute some of their time when possible
• By applying for grants and fund raising to hire contractors for bridleway improvements
• By using the membership subscription to fund PABA running costs
• Voicing rider's ideas and needs through our membership
• Committee members attending meetings about related matters on behalf of our members

HOW YOU CAN HELP

• Use your bridleways to the full width in summer to keep the undergrowth down and break off small branches in the way
• Refrain from using the bridleways when the ground is very soft, if use is unavoidable keep to the edge and walk to minimise ground poaching
• Help with practical action, such as clearing bridleways, fund raising etc.
• Follow the Country Code
• Be polite to other users and to the landowners
• Report any problems which you find to the appropriate representative
• Show your support by becoming a member and spread the word to others.  The more members we have the more influential we become
  

AFFLIATED TO THE BRITISH HORSE SOCIETY

Our BHS affiliation membership provides us with third party public liability insurance during events such as path clearing parties.