Kirsty Morgan wrote to us about a lack of manners and enjoyment shown at a local competition...

"The other day I went along to a local hunter trial to watch and support some friends of mine. Looking around, I noticed there were lots of lovely horses, as well as little children on Shetlands and Welshies, and I noticed how amazingly well behaved these ponies were. Unfortunately, some of the children - not so much!

I saw children using gags, pelhams and other very harsh bits on their ponies. Others were riding in spurs, which is all very well if you know how to use them but many seemed not to and were really booting their ponies.

Some of the older children were so rude to their parents - I heard swearing and screaming, and I would never have dared spoke to my parents like this. 

One moment of the day was very touching, which was a young girl who had gone round her first ever hunter trial. It wasn't done at great speed or with much style, but she rode nicely and her cob gave it his all and looked after her and she came out patting and hugging him. She seemed so grateful towards her pony and towards her mother, who had been there all day supporting and helping her.

It would be nice if more children and adults remembered that it's moments like these with our horses that made you want to be around such an amazing animal in the first place."

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