Its been an upsetting weekend where we are really feeling very down about this whole situation and wondering why people seem to hate horse riders so much.

Yesterday, two of our young riders wanted to go out on a hack - Weather was perfect for a nice sheltered walk in the woods, exercising the ponies whilst keeping them and us safe.

Instead, this is what we encountered on the road route we now have to use to get to the byway. Link to video The girls felt too scared to ride on the road, so the hack got cut short. 

Today, different riders took to the road onto the byway (Only one incident with a car overtaking way too close... but it is Sunday!) and up to the farmers field that run alongside the woods (where we have permission to ride) Imagine how we then felt when... even though not in the woods we are abused by some man and his dog (well, the dog didn't abuse us... just the man) who said we shouldn't be there, took photos of us and shouted threats of reporting us to the council - A grown man accosting a woman and her child, he must feel very proud of himself.

It feels like we cant go anywhere - Footpaths are a no, cycle tracks are a no, roads are too dangerous and apparently horses dont belong in the countryside if you are in Harlow.

So instead of riding in Risden Woods, where its safe... or clogging up the roads on horseback, where its not... we will clog them up with our trailers to drive to other woodland areas, who, like Risden Woods, have SSSI status... But unlike Harlow Council are not vilifying riders.

What a wonderful inclusive world we live in