HAIR BRAKES

Sir — Your news item on plaiting natives’ forelocks (23 August) brought back a happy memory.

While I was riding my late Fell through the forest, a postman from Liverpool stopped me. Or more accurately, my mare stopped him for a pat and a chat.

“First time I’ve been to the countryside — there’s a lot of it,” he said, patting my mare and reaching deep into his pocket. With the flourish of a magician, he produced a large rubber band.

“Your horse can’t possibly see where she is going, let me put this band on her...”

Although my mare was decidedly unimpressed, I considered his point about her not being able to see through her unruly forelock. However, I did wonder if leaving it down was more to help me and actually

deterred her from going too fast, for which I was extremely grateful because boy, she couldn’t half shift! Jackie Ellis Ainstable, Cumbria