All of the above upsetting the horse and often unseating th

1
Windfarm Consultation
2
400 Consultations sent out

• Sent to. Bridleway Officers
• Development officers
• Affiliated Bridleway Groups
• 116 responses received- return of 29

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Contents of Consultation

• Questions included
• Do you ride near wind turbines?
• Are they near public rights of way?
• Have you encountered any problems?
• Location of respondent

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Response?

• Of the 116 responses, 19 people rode near
  turbines (16)
• 16 people informed us the turbines were on, or
  very near a right of way, the remainder being on
  private land.

5
Problems?

• The Main Problems Reported Were
• Turbines casting shadows
• Noise from turbines
• Flying Ice in winter
• Movement of blades
• All of the above upsetting the horse and often
  unseating the rider or causing them to fall

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Problems?

• From the 19 respondents, 5 people have actually
  fallen off at least once, 3 of these required
  hospitalisation and was horse was unable to be
  ridden after the incident

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• People who encountered no problems stated they
  were riding horses who were accustomed to the
  turbines or riding very steady older horses. They
  also acknowledged that they could understand how
  other peoples horses may be upset by the presence
  of a turbine and are aware of incidents occurring

8

• Lots of people also commented that they wouldnt
  mind one turbine, however a whole farm of
  turbines may cause them to rethink their riding
  route.

9

• In one particular instance, a report of over half
  the members of Haworth and Oxenhope riding club
  experiencing problems was reported, this being
  over 100 incidents.

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Location of Respondents

• 1 Incident in North East
• 5 Incidents in Lancashire
• 1 Incident in Cumbria
• 1 Incident in West Yorkshire
• 1 incident in Cornwall
• 2 incidents in Wales

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Location of Respondents

• Lancashire
• 1x unable to pass, 1 fall, 1 bolted, 2x
  distressed horses
• Wales
• 1xsudden stop and spin around, 1 bolted
• West Yorkshire
• 1x distressed horse but heard of many more riders
  having problems, over half the bridleway group.
• Cornwall
• 1x distressed horse
• Cumbria
• 1x distressed horse
• North east
• 1x distressed horse due to noise

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Respondents were also asked if the presence of
turbines would deter them from taking their horse
to a given place e.g an equestrian holiday.

• Of the 99 people who answered the question, 66
  would not take their horse on holiday where there
  were turbines present (65)
• The main reasons were
• Their horse had never seen a turbine and they
  would be unsure of its reaction
• Unnecessary risk
• Scenery and views spoilt

13
Equestrian Business

• This will have implications for many equestrian
  businesses including bed and breakfast
  establishments.
• In the areas where incidents were reported the
  British Horse Society has registered bed and
  breakfasts that cater for equestrians

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Bed and Breakfast Establishments

• County Durham and surrounding area 7
• Lancashire 5
• Cornwall 5
• West Yorkshire 11
• Cumbria 6
• One respondent commented that her clients have
  stopped coming due to the erection of turbines in
  the surrounding area