THE Worcestershrie branch of the British Horse Society is inviting dozens of intrepid horse riders to attend a unique Countryside With Confidence evening later this month.

The event - which marks this year's British Horse Society Access Week - has been organised by Bobbie Matulja, county access and bridleways officer for the BHS, and her assistant officer, Judith Smart.

The speaker is Richard Preston, from Worcestershire County Council countryside services. He will cover basic map reading skills, identifying the rights of way that are open to horse riders and outline the various rights and responsibilities of path users, landowners and the county council.

He will also show people how to read a map - a skill which is very important to horse riders, says Bobbie.

"The evening is designed to help riders in our county to make better use of the bridleway and by-way network and encourage them to explore more of the countryside in their area," she said. "We know that some riders don't feel confident enough to explore the areas available to them."

The countryside service will be presenting parts of the evening and Bobbie and Judith will be on hand to advise riders what to wear and what to take with you on longer rides in the countryside. The evening will end with a pub style quiz.

Bobbie and Judith are developing a series of bridleway rides in various locations that include adjacent parking for horse-boxes. The Worcestershire branch of the BHS is working in partnership with the service to identify route improvements and developing ways of signing routes over the next couple of years. The first route is a 9.5-mile circular ride around the Kingsford and Shatterford area in the north-west of the county that, it is hoped, will be unveiled at the event.

Bobby said: "This is the first time we have held an event like this and it is one of many special occasions to mark the British Horse Society Access Week, which began on May 18. We want to give riders confidence to explore far and wide but they have to know where they are going - hence the importance of map reading skills. The more people who use the bridleways the better as it will help create even more riding opportunities."

The Worcestershire Bridleways and Riders Association does a lot of work to improve existing bridleways by clearing vegetation and reporting fallen trees. The association has been working with Worcestershire County Council on bridleways at Hope Mill, near Clifton-on-Teme, Joan's Hole, on Sabrina Way, near Abberley, and near Kyre Green, in the west of the county. The group also identifies lost ways' which riders can claim as bridleways or restricted byways.

If you want to attend the event at the Berkeley Arms, Evesham Road, Spetchley, at 7.30pm on May 22, ring Bobby on 0121 445 6998 or Judith on 01299 851 279.

There will be a small number of OS maps for sale.