Talk:Bridle path

Long distance bridle paths

Wasn't the recent deletion an over-reaction? The article is just a stub and I thought that my additions would be of value to equestrians and others, as well as help expand this article. On the other hand I realize things can get out of hand -- but wonder if that would happen here? If the list of paths got too long it could be given a separate page. This subject is surely very relevant and at least a section on it should be included. By the way, surely the article needs to expand the discussion to include more about the rest of the world. Rwood128 (talk) 12:23, 29 November 2013 (UTC)

• I think the list was fine - but I wasn't sure what made those bridal paths as compared to long-distance hiking trails. It seems like the UK has a more expansive use of the term than the US, where it's a rare name for a very few trails that have a specific history, and not a generic term. Or am I misunderstand it? - DavidWBrooks (talk) 13:12, 29 November 2013 (UTC)

There have always, I believe, been some long bridle routes in Britain, in addition to many short local paths. These are multi-use trails that can be used by cyclists, equestrians and hikers. In the second half of the 20th-century equestrians lobbied for more equal treatment with hikers, and this has led to the creation of new long distance trails that use existing bridle paths with new linking paths, like the Pennine Bridleway, which follows an alternative route to the main Pennine Way hiking trail. Where disused rail lines have been converted into trails in the UK they can also be multi-use bridle paths. The French have also created long distance equestrian routes, and I imagine that this is probably true for other European countries (see <http://www.tourisme-lotetgaronne.com/uk/hiking-bridle-paths.php>. It would be interesting if you were able to add a comment on bridle paths/trails in the USA. I checked the Appalachian Trail, and was interested to find that there are only a couple of sections where horses/pack animals are permitted. Rwood128 (talk) 17:37, 29 November 2013 (UTC)

THere's a difference between a path "originally made for use by horses" as we define this, and a trail that is now used by horses as well as other non-motorized vehicles; the latter, which I believe constitutes much of the Appalachian Trail where horses are allowed, really wouldn't be a "bridle path" ... would it? - DavidWBrooks (talk) 22:44, 29 November 2013 (UTC)

Bridleways in Britain were not "originally made for use by horses", but are paths used by both walkers and horse riders. Horses are, however, barred from footpaths in England and Wales. New long distance trails are made up of short existing bridle paths and newly created bridle paths. I cannot really comment on how the term bridleway is used in North America, but with regard to the Appalachian Trail, one section where horses are permitted is a tow path. In Scotland horses are permitted on tow paths, but the article indicates that the Scots don't legally differentiate between a footpath and a bridleway. In England and Wales it seems that equestrians are banned, but most tow paths are, I think, technically permissive paths, though walkers and cyclists are normally now encouraged to use them. I suppose that a horse drawn barge is still legal, however. Rwood128 (talk) 00:30, 30 November 2013 (UTC)

I've made some changes in the hope of making things clearer -- but maybe further tinkering is needed? Rwood128 (talk) 01:29, 30 November 2013 (UTC)

Some further comments:

• (1) I see that Sauratown Trail in Stokes, USA is described as a hiking and bridle trail. So wouldn't those parts of the Appalachian Trail open to horses also be bridle paths? Horses are allowed on the American Discovery Trail <http://www.discoverytrail.org>

• (2) I have done some more research and realize that the article could end up largely being about long distance bridle paths and equestrian tourism. The latter term seems to be popular in France. A good example in France is 'The R. L. Stevenson Way', GR 7, which follows the route of Stevenson's 19th-century donkey trek through the Cevenne. The Evliya Çelebi Way in Turkey is an example of a cultural tourism route, which can be used by both hikers and equestrians. The question is, should the article expand in this direction, or where does it go?

I'm confused how this differs from [[1]] - a hiking trail where horses are allowed. I fear we have expanded the definition of "Bridle path" so that it means the same thing as an equestrian trail ... what do you think? = DavidWBrooks (talk) 00:03, 1 December 2013 (UTC)

Is the problem here that usually in the USA a long distance route used by horse riders is called an equestrian trail rather than bridle path? (though there are examples that seem to contradict this). Both the terms bridleway and bridle path seem to be the ones used to describe long distance equestrian routes in England and Wales, and the French, English language, tourist sites use bridle path similarly. A bridle path, or bridleway in England and Wales is not a hiking path where horses are permitted, but rather a route that is shared by horse riders, hikers, and cyclists. Rwood128 (talk) 01:35, 1 December 2013 (UTC)

My experience in the US is that "bridal path" is a rare, and unofficial, title/name that, so far as I know, refers to paths that were easy enough that horses could carry brides - that is, not too strenuous. They are historical, not contemporary; in other words, nobody creates a new path that is called a bridal path. The term, from what you say, seems to have a more official usage in Britain.

But again, this is my unofficial experience; I'll have to see if there's some official terminology. - DavidWBrooks (talk) 01:43, 1 December 2013 (UTC)

You're incorrect as to "bridal" but correct to unofficial use with no formal definition. See my reply below. Montanabw^(talk) 19:41, 2 December 2013 (UTC)

This is interesting. I had thought that you had just accidentally copied my typo -- bridal for bridle -- when you first responded. It now appears that we are discussing two distinct kinds of path and that the confusion lies in the fact that two different words, bride and bridle, are homonyms. It is of course not impossible that both spelling and usage has changed overtime.

• Bridle path (also bridleway) refers to "a rough path or road fit only for riders or walkers, not vehicles" (Canadian Oxford Dictionary (1998), or, for England and Wales, "A way over which the public has a right of way on foot and a right of way on horseback or leading a horse, with or without a right to drive animals along the way (s 329, Highways Act 1980 and s 192, Road Traffic Act 1988)" ( A Dictionary of Law Enforcement. Oxford University Press, 2007).

You have supplied a good definition for bridal path, so what now is needed is a source for this rarer use. Rwood128 (talk) 13:59, 1 December 2013 (UTC)

In the USA, I don't think we have any formal designation of "bridle path," it's merely a colloquialism for trails or paths used primarily for people making day treks on horses, usually used only on the east coast. Out west, it's just a "trail." There is no such thing as a "bridal path" other than, maybe those weird places in Las Vegas. LOL! We don't say "bridleway" at all. Most of the time, horses are presumed allowed to use trails unless specifically banned in certain areas. Montanabw^(talk) 19:41, 2 December 2013 (UTC)

This is useful clarification. However, there's still a need for tweaking, and some of the comment offered re the USA should be added, even though citations aren't probably available. The definition, for a bridle path in England and Wales, from the legal dictionary should also add. The reference in the article to bridleways in the British Empire, seems doubtful and I suggest it should be amended. My suspicion would be that generally the usage, of both bridle path and bridleway, is probably close that in the USA, but bridleways exist in New Zealand -- see below.

Tweak to your heart's content! (Just please, don't twerk!) Also feel free to take any of my random thoughts and make an unsourced section on USA uses, I can tweak from there and try to find citations as time permits. Link to trail riding for the most part. I know squat about use of terminology or actual use in the rest of the world, so have at it with my blessing! Montanabw^(talk) 21:43, 3 December 2013 (UTC)

• NEW ZEALAND http://www.nzbridleways.info

"Bridleways? Bridleways, bridlepaths, green networks, greenways. These are just a few terms used around the world to describe trails or paths used by non-motorised traffic. Bridleways or bridlepaths are traditional rights of way in the United Kingdom for horse traffic. All bridleways in the UK are shared by horses (including carriages), walkers (and their dogs) and cyclists (since 1967). In New Zealand, we inexplicably have reduced the notion of bridleways to being for horses only. Nor do we have a history of traditional rights of way, nor of the European 'right to roam' (sadly). Horses share the roads and road sides with walkers, cycles and vehicles. So sharing off road routes with walkers and cycles carries no greater risk!"

Rwood128 (talk) 14:33, 3 December 2013 (UTC)

Bridal vs. bridle

OK, this is wicked embarrassing ... all these years I've seen the name "bridlepath" on the White Mountain trail in the USA and read it as "bridal path" - which leads to the possibility that I've somehow convoluted a fake history in my head about the "easy enough for a bride to ride", unless I read somebody else's erroneous etymology. Maybe my opinion on this matter should just be ignored! - DavidWBrooks (talk) 13:47, 3 December 2013 (UTC)

LOL! At least I hope you don't say my pet peeve, "reign" in instead of "rein in." That one drives me completely bonkers! Montanabw^(talk) 21:43, 3 December 2013 (UTC)

I'm kind of disappointed, I really believed, seeing it as similar to corpse roads.Rwood128 (talk) 15:47, 4 December 2013 (UTC)

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Equestrian trails

The article should be expanded to include more countries. See: https://commons.wikimedia.org/Category:Equestrian_trails_by_country; https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruiterpad. I hope to start on this shortly. Rwood128 (talk) 13:35, 17 April 2024 (UTC)

Also might the title be changed to "Equestrian trail"?

And France