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Sometimes, it is desirable to prevent cars from using a wide
path on a route which is not available to horse drawn vehicles (HDVs).
(When HDVs are allowed, the Kent Carriage Gap
is recommended instead.)
This structure does not prevent the most determined motorcyclist,
but has been found to be highly effective in some areas, and is
preferable to gates on otherwise obstruction-free routes. It is not
suitable where livestock have to be enclosed.
The horse stile comprises two bars on the ground across the path
with a space between them. Usually a side fence or rail is also
provided to prevent bypassing the structure.
When problems are caused by other vehicles the use of a
restricted (1.52m or 5ft) gap is preferred. Further information
can be found in the British Standard (Reference 1).
The use of railway sleepers for the horizontal bars has been found to be an effective and relatively cheap method of constructing a horse stile.
- The height of top of the bars above ground shall be 190mm +/- 60mm.
- There shall be no gap between the ground and the bar.
- The thickness of bars along the path shall be between 80mm and 160mm.
- The minimum width of bar across the path shall be 1525mm.
- The distance between centre lines of bars shall be 1200mm +/- 100mm.
- There shall be a clear manoeuvring space 4000mm high and 3000mm long and at least 2000mm wide both sides of the horse stile and contiguous with it.
- The space between the bars shall be free draining.
- Access for other users, for example a kissing gate, shall be provided to the side of the horse stile.
- The horse shall be able to walk straight through the structure. Space shall be provided to allow that and no gates shall require to be opened.
- The material of the bars should be such that striking them with horses hooves should not make a sudden ring or noise likely to startle a horse.
- When the structure fails to meet any of the general requirements it shall be repaired, or replaced, or removed.
- There shall be no barbed wire, or electric fencing capable of giving a shock [allows crossings] inside the gap or structure or within 1m of the gap or structure or of the manoeuvring space.
- Any finger or direction post carrying a protruding direction sign shall not form part of the stile or gate post, but shall be mounted separately so that the direction arm cannot overhang the structure or intrude into the manoeuvring space.
- The ground within 1m of the structure and through the structure shall be free of surface water (except within a couple of hours of rain), with less than 10mm of mud and a firm surface consolidated so that the surface level does not erode.
- Where the structure abuts a vehicular road the structure should be set back sufficiently to allow users to access and traverse the structure without risk of being struck by vehicles. This also helps prevent danger should a horse try to jump the structure. The following may be suitable: 4m from the carriageway for bridleways. (The Countryside Agency recommend a set back distance of 5m on the Pennine Bridleway.)
- On the structure there should be no projections such as bolts likely to catch on clothing of path users or to injure animals. On the main structure there should be no splinters on wood, slivers on metal, or similar defects in other materials, that are liable to pierce the skin. All edges and corners on the main structure except those on the lower horizontal edges of horizontal parts should be rounded to a radius no sharper than 3mm or chamfered with at least a 3mm flat.
- The structure should be built and maintained with adequate strength and rigidity and quality of material and design to ensure the safe and convenient passage of users.
1. British Standard 5709:2001 Gaps, gates and stiles - Specification, June 2001,
