What is "bridle path"

Bridle \Bri"dle\, n. [OE. bridel, AS. bridel; akin to OHG. britil, brittil, D. breidel, and possibly to E. braid. Cf. Bridoon.]

1. The head gear with which a horse is governed and restrained, consisting of a headstall, a bit, and reins, with other appendages.

2. A restraint; a curb; a check.
   --I. Watts.

3. (Gun.) The piece in the interior of a gun lock, which holds in place the tumbler, sear, etc.

4. (Naut.)

   1. A span of rope, line, or chain made fast as both ends, so that another rope, line, or chain may be attached to its middle.

   2. A mooring hawser. Bowline bridle. See under Bowline. Branches of a bridle. See under Branch. Bridle cable (Naut.), a cable which is bent to a bridle. See 4, above. Bridle hand, the hand which holds the bridle in riding; the left hand. Bridle path, Bridle way, a path or way for saddle horses and pack horses, as distinguished from a road for vehicles. Bridle port (Naut.), a porthole or opening in the bow through which hawsers, mooring or bridle cables, etc., are passed. Bridle rein, a rein attached to the bit. Bridle road.

      1. Same as Bridle path.
         --Lowell.

      2. A road in a pleasure park reserved for horseback exercise.

         Bridle track, a bridle path.

         Scolding bridle. See Branks, 2.

         Syn: A check; restrain.

alt. An established trail used by riders mounted on horses. n. An established trail used by riders mounted on horses.

n. a path suitable for riding or leading horses (but not for cars) [syn: bridle road]

Bridle path or Bridle Path may refer to:

• Bridle path, a path or trail for horses
• Bridle path (horse), a cropped section of a horse's mane
• Bridle Path (New Zealand), a track connecting Christchurch and Lyttelton on the South Island of New Zealand
• Bridle Path (Simi Valley), a residential community in southern Simi Valley, California
• Bridle Path, Toronto, a residential neighbourhood in Toronto, Canada
• The Bridal Path, a novel by Nigel Tranter published in 1952
• The Bridal Path (film), a 1959 British comedy film directed by Frank Launder and starring Bill Travers, George Cole and Bernadette O'Farrell

The Bridle Path is a steep track that traverses the northern rim of the Lyttelton volcano connecting the city of Christchurch and the port of Lyttelton in the South Island of New Zealand.

It was constructed in 1850 as a bridle path for leading horses, and was used by the early European settlers as a route from the port to new settlements on the northern side of the Port Hills. Although very steep, it was the only means of traversing the hills until Summit Road over Evans Pass was completed in 1857. The track ascends from the port itself to a height of 350 m before descending again via Heathcote Valley to Christchurch. It remains popular today as a walking and mountain biking route.

The bridle path is a shaved or clipped section of the mane, beginning behind the ears of a horse at the poll, delineating the area where the crownpiece of the bridle lies. Bridle paths are a common style of grooming in the United States, but are not seen as often in Europe.

A bridle path, also bridleway, equestrian trail, horse riding path, bridle road, or horse trail, is a path, trail or a thoroughfare that is used by people riding on horses. Trails originally created for use by horses often now serve a wider range of users, including equestrians, hikers, and cyclists. Such paths are either impassable for motorized vehicles, or vehicles are banned. The laws relating to allowable uses vary from country to country.

In industrialized countries, bridle paths are now primarily used for recreation. However, they are still important transportation routes in other areas. For example, they are the main method of traveling to mountain villages in Lesotho. In some areas, bridle paths developed as transport routes where the terrain was so steep that the route was impassable by wheeled wagons and vehicles, as for example, Bridle Path, New Zealand, an early transport route in Christchurch. However, In England and Wales a bridle path now refers to a route which can be legally used by horse riders in addition to walkers, and since 1968, by cyclists.

In the US, the term bridle path is used colloquially for trails or paths used primarily for people making day treks on horses, and usually used only on the east coast, whereas out west the equivalent term is trail. The term "bridleway" is rarely used in the U.S. Most of the time horses are presumed allowed to use trails in America unless specifically banned, although rules differ among locations.

In some countries long distance multi-use trails have been created, including the Bicentennial National Trail in Australia, one of the longest marked multi-use trails in the world, stretching 5,330 kilometres. Rail trails can often be used by equestrians.