THOUGH towpaths where obviously constructed for the use of horses, they are no longer allowed, with of course the exception of a traditional boat being pulled by one.
But boaters have been alarmed to see them cantering along the narrow Shropshire Union Canal towpath at Coole Pilate, an obvious danger to boaters and walkers using the towpath.
Danger
One boater, Glen Summers, writes:
We also met another possible danger to boaters when we pulled in at Coole Pilate barbecue area recently. Two horse riders appeared along the narrow approach to the picnic area and passed our boat in very close proximity.
These were not small ponies but very large horses. The women exercising them said they didn't have a clue whether they were allowed on the towpath or not but didn't care as the roads were getting too dangerous for them.
'We have to ride somewhere'
I asked what would happen if their supposedly 'bombproof' horses were to meet walkers on the narrow stretches or were startled by children or dogs leaping off the backs of boats? "Oh, it's alright, we've got gold insurance on our horses. We have to ride them somewhere," came the reply.
(The photograph shows how close a horse was to the boater.)
The next day we left heading for Nantwich and it was evident where they had been by the piles of horse manure along the towpath that seemed to end at Hack Green locks. A large horsebox was visible in the grounds of a nearby house so possibly they came from there. So boaters beware.