Groups show what's possible for off-road riding given effort and time

Groups of people have worked to create miles of hacking for equestrians and their horses to enjoy

- By LUCY ELDER

AS horse owners face an ever-increasing challenge to find safe hacking routes, riders, charities, landowners and other passionate individuals are showing what can be achieved.

H&H has heard success stories of people working together on off-road riding.

A little over two years ago, a team of riders, walkers and others set the challenge of mapping circular routes on the North York Moors.

The team has worked on mapping, logistics and manual restoration to create the Saint Aelred’s Pilgrim Trail. They created the 41-mile walking route to start with, and have since mapped a 50-mile version for riders - inspired by the “rich riding tradition on the moors”.

“We have a really rich ecclesiastical and architectural heritage on the North York Moors,” George Gyte, secretary of the Saint Aelred’s Pilgrim Trail Society, told H&H.

“We thought it was a really good idea to see whether we could build a circular trail that began and ended in Helmsley, the market town.”

RIDERS' TRAIL

RIDERS Mary Edwards and Bill Tate, other members of Ryedale Bridleways Group and Janet Cochrane of Ride Yorkshire have been instrumental in developing the riders’ trail.