HORSES ON ROADS

I could not believe the reply from B Chapman towards the ‘Horses on roads’ debate (February). I live in the beautiful Tyne Valley in Northumberland, and although not a horse rider myself, I do drive a car and often meet horse riders while driving in the rural area. I always slow down and give horse riders as wide a berth as possible.

It is often the inconsiderate drivers who do not slow down who alarm the horses and cause accidents. B Chapman claims horse riders should be banned from roads as they do not pay road tax! Does he/she also extend this to bicycle riders who also don’t pay road tax but are often involved in many more accidents than horse riders? Roads are not the prerogative of car drivers and we should all be more tolerant of other road users and their needs. Heather Bland, via email