December Update

Thanks to all those who attended the Christmas meeting, we all enjoyed a feast, and many thanks to the Lamb Inn Penderyn for the use of the room every month.

The council have been surveying the Cwmbach to Llwydcoed old railway line for re-surfacing. They don't have the funds to do so at present but they have assured me that there will be a cycle track and a purpose built horse route alongside.

It was agreed that this years riding club camp will take place at the beginning of July in Heart of Wales riding school. The exact date and details will be on the website shortly.

There will be no ride this month but there is an endurance ride on 4th January in the Forest of Dean for those who want to get out over the Christmas period. Full details on the events page.

We hope to work with Green Meadow Riding School over the coming months to run the annual show at Dare Valley Country Park. Januarys meeting will be dedicated to this and will take place on the 8th January in the Lamb Inn Penderyn 7.30pm

A local GB Endurance group is currently being set up in the South Wales area, they are looking to hold joint meeting with local equine groups so hopefully we can link up with them and attend some of their organised rides.

On a sad note one of our members Clive passed away recently. Clive was a local farmer and was involved in with the local hunt and the Bridleways group. Our condolences go out to his family.

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November Update

Our funding application was turned down by the Heads of the Valleys fund but the Groundwork Trust are not giving up and have put in another application to a seperate Heads of the Valleys fund, so lets hope we get lucky this time.

Alison has purchased the interactive ordinance survey maps so we can check out local routes on horseback.

The council parks and countryside department of the council have agreed the route behind Aberdare park from Beechwood avenue. They will be installing a new horse step in the near future at Beechwood avenue, horse riders can then take the middle gate through Aberdare park and out at the end of Park Lane. This means minimal road work for Pony Club children riding from Dare Valley Country Park to the Pony Club field, and for other horse riders wishing to access the Country Park.

The Forestry Commission will shortly be starting work on the bridleway from Pentre to Maerdy, upgrading part of the track and clearing fallen trees. They have altered a gate to make access easier.

The Forestry Commission are working with Ynysybwl riding club to develop routes through the Llanwunno Forestry section to work around the one landowner who has declined to give permission for horse riders to access their land.

Briars Bridleways have written to RCT council regarding signposting at strategic points that horse riders regularly use. The request has been passed on to the signage department.

Riding Club

We are planning to run a ride from Rudry Common car park on 16th November. The ride will run along the new Ridgeway routes developed by Caerphilly Council and SAFE (the bridleways group in Caerphilly). The ride will take approx just over 2 hours and will take in Mountain views and some canters along forestry tracks. If you are interested in attending this ride then please let me know.

Members have asked to return to Heart of Wales riding school again for this years camp. I will be investigation potential dates for next year. Watch this space

 

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October Update new

Unfortunately the RCT Economic Fund has turned down our application for funding due to the high number of funding applications they have received. We are still yet to hear from the Heads of the Valleys fund so keep those fingers crossed.

We have agreed to purchase the Interactive ordinance survey maps of the local area so we can continue with testing out bridleways in RCT and the surrounding areas.

There is an express eventing day in the Millenium stadium on 30th November 2008.The competition is attracting some of the countries top event riders including Mary Kind and Mark Todd. If anyone is interested in getting tickets for the event there is a 10% discount for groups of 20 people. Visit the express eveting website to find out all about the competition http://www.eeicup.com/Home.asp 

Alison is currently trying out a number of routes for another fun ride. In the mean time Monmouthshire Hunt have a fun ride on the 12th October.See the events page for further details.

SAFE the bridleways group in Caerphilly are holding and Equestrian Table top sale in the City of Cardiff riding school on 26th October.

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September Update 

We have now submitted funding applications to the Heads of the Valleys fund and RCT Economice Development fund in conjunction with the Merthyr RCT Groundwork Trust. If we get awarded the grant fund it will enable us to develop a long distance route across the Heads of the Valleys area, encompassing smaller local loops. The project will build on the current Loops and Links project. Fingers crossed !!!!

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Llangorse Lakes ride

August fun ride took place on Sunday 10th August. We started at the Llansantffraed layby just off the A40. The ride took us over 17km of bridleways and country lanes. Although there were a few heavy showers the bridleways were quite sheltered with hedges either side so we didn't get too wet. The ride took approximately 2 and a half hours and we had great views of the lake and surrounding countryside. When we returned to the trailers we stopped for a bite to eat from the resident burger van. Photos of the ride can be found on the gallery 2 page.

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September Meeting

There will be no meeting next month, the next meeting will take place in October

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Monthly Update

• Groundwork Merthyr RCT have now put a bid in to the Heads of the Valleys fund to develop the long distance route through RCT, the bid is to include funds for surveying routes, volunteer expense, improvements including signage, re-surfacing, and gates. The Groundwork trust are also looking from funding from other sources.

• Llanwunno Forestry - the Forestry Commission has now taken the decision to develop existing routes within the forest rather than give open access due to issues with permission from landwowners. The FC is working with riders from the local area to develop these routes.

• Website- The website is becoming increasingly popular and we have decided to add these monthly updates to enusre horse riders in RCT are kept regularly up to date with Briars Bridleways progress. We have also added a "for sale" page to the site. If you have any equestrian items for sale please email briarsbridleways@yahoo.co.uk.

• We have paid our annual British Horse Society subscription to allow us to keep affiliated to the BHS for another year.

• This months ride is in Llangorse lakes on Sunday 10th August. Many thanks to Alison who has tried out the route.

• There are other fun rides taking place this month, check out our events page for details.

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Briars Bridleways on Facebook

Alison has set up a new Briars Bridleways facebook group where you can get regular updates on what activities and events are being run. To join the group get yourself a facebook profile @ www.facebook.com

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The Werfa Forestry Abernant Aberdare re-opens for horse riders

The Forestry Commission has kindly re-opened the Werfa Foresry Abernant for horse riders. If you would like to access the forestry then follow the Abernant road up to the top past the Rosswenallt Pub. Take the last right past the big houses on the left hand side. Carry along the track for about half a mile and take the second exit into the forestry on the left hand side. You will find a horse step alongside the forestry barrier. Just after the horse step bear left and you will see a small track which will take you into the forest and onto the main forestry roads. From there you can ride over Merthyr or to Cefn Pennar, Mountain Ash.

If you go over the horse step and carry straight on past the water board facility the track will take you back onto the old railway line in Cwmbach.

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