I'VE ridden in many parts of the country and also in various countries. Where I grew up, in the Thames Valley, the riding was through woods and along chalk tracks, but accessible only along roads, and even then, 30 or so years ago, the roads were busy.

Riding in the New Forest was fantastic, miles and miles of open countryside, few roads, and all of it accessible to riders. The same in Exmoor, wonderful riding country, with nothing to see but rough moorland.

Here in Craven, I think we're also actually very lucky, we have a good network of bridlepaths, though granted it's not always easy to get to them, but then increasingly, I come across riders who've boxed up and travelled to reach the good rides.

But we can't afford to be complacent, so I have learnt. A bill currently going through Parliament could have far reaching consequences to future horse riders. The de-regulation bill could mean well used and loved rides being taken away, overnight; sections of a favourite circular route might no longer be accessible for riders - so rendering the whole ride useless.

The law is not due to come into force for more than a decade, but blink and you'll miss it. There will be certain unrecorded rights of way after 2026 which will simply be extinguished. Fortunately, there are groups working hard on the behalf of riders of the future to make sure bridleways are protected.

The British Horse Society is also supporting groups where it can and has produced a useful leaflet offering advice and information, but every rider who wants to continue riding off road, ought to be aware of what might happen - and act now.

Sheila Pilling, who runs Wilkinson's Farm Livery at East Marton, says in these days when increasing numbers of riders prefer to ride in schools or indoor arenas, and not hack out at all, it is ever more important that those who do still ride out protect the routes. "It's not just about individuals, it needs to be groups of riders who make sure bridlepaths are registered, and also to make sure they are safe, and not made inaccessible for some reason," she says.

Routes open to horse riding will also be accessible to cyclists and walkers, but can often be used by vehicles - and occasionally subject to the wrong sort of surfacing.

"I've had to report cases where a bridlepath, used as a road, has been re-surfaced with the wrong sort of tarmac. It might be all right for cars, but horses can slip all over it. There is a proper type of tarmac that must be used on bridleways," says Sheila. "It should also be reported if a path becomes inaccessible for some reason. A gate might get broken, or a fixing the wrong sort for a rider to be able to reach, all these things should be reported to the public rights of way officer," she says.

Rights of way are logged in Craven by North Yorkshire County Council, and over the border in parts of South Craven, by Bradford Council. Routes in the Yorkshire Dales National Park are also logged by North Yorkshire .

Concerns or problems with bridleways should be reported to the councils' public rights of way officers, and in the case of the national park, with the park rights of way officer.

The Wharfedale and Airedale Horse Riding Organisation (WAHRO) is a recently-set up body aiming to improve access for horse riders, and also welcomes cyclists.

It collects and shares information with other groups, fights to preserve old ridden routes and liaises with local authorities.

Above all, it is keen to get the message across to riders that routes need to be logged now - and it is willing to help where it can.

"For all those youngsters who daren't go out hacking now, we want to make sure that our bridlepaths are saved," says the group's Pam Allen.

"Most local authorities have a map of paths and public rights of way, but it is important that people now check to see the path they use regularly is on the map as a bridlepath, and if its not, they have to set about researching it and getting it registered."

A route not registered with the authority as a bridlepath will need to have its historical use established - and by a fair number of people.

And with an ever decreasing number of riders hacking out, and with riders giving up, or moving away, proof of historical use is not always easy.

Pam says her group is willing to give help and advice to those concerned about a particular route, but what they would really like to see is groups taking up the issue in their particular area.

"We go along to all the local access forums and to everything we can to protect the rights of way for horse riders, but we are all volunteers and it is a very big job," she says.

Pam has also found even on the known bridlepaths there are fewer people using them. "I can see by the tracks they are less used, but then riders in some places can be open to all sorts of abuse by motorists, its no wonder people don't want to go out."

The BHS in its advice on recording a right of way, points out there are many errors on the Definitive Map because compiling it and updating it has been a difficult and contentious issue, often made worse by under-funded local authorities.

It says it supports the work to correctly record the many bridleways and restricted byways that are currently omitted or recorded at a lower status - such as ridden routes recorded as footpath. "Many volunteers are strongly dedicated to the task and any more people who can contribute are welcome because it is very important to have all rights recorded as soon as possible. Certain unrecorded rights will be extinguished in 2026," says the BHS.

More information, including steps on how to register a right of way, can be found on the British Horse Society website, or The Wharfedale and Airedale Horse Riding Organisation.