This Is Cheshire

Staff 'really feared for horses' lives'

From the archive, first published Wednesday 2nd Nov 2005.

STABLE staff have slammed the Cheshire Forest Hunt claiming they feared for their horses' lives after a ride took place in Crowton.

On Monday a group of riders, accompanied by a pack of hounds and a Harris Hawk on a lead, set out on a trail from Oaklands Hotel in Gorstage shortly after 11am.

But Carol Taylor, who works at a livery in Ainsworth Lane, says she had not been notified of the hunt and that her horses, many of which are retired or rescue animals, were out to graze when the hunt passed through.

She said: "Our horses went absolutely ballistic - we really feared for their lives at one point. They've been in a hell of a state. Some of them have had to be sedated."

Carol feels that because the hunt had taken a bird of prey with them they were making a statement because, since the hunting bill changed last year, falconry is not outlawed and dogs can flush prey to the bird.

"We are really upset and the horses are extremely distressed. I don't see why other people should be inconvenienced because they are proving a point and flouting the law, " she added.

But Richard de Prez, joint hunt master, said riders were following a trail and that they were not breaking any laws.

He said: "We hunted within the parameters of the 2004 Hunting Act and we were merely following a trail. We did not flush out a fox.

"We make every effort to notify people that we will be riding and if we have caused any distress to the horses we can only apologise."

But Wanda Wyporska, from the League Against Cruel Sports, is appalled by what she describes as a 'flagrant disregard' for animals and property.

She said: "The hunt's attempt to flout the law by what appears to be the token use of a bird of prey, which does not naturally hunt a fox as quarry, is clearly a matter for concern."

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