WE have just come back from yet another unforgetable ride through the beautiful Forest.

I have been lucky enough to walk and ride here for well over 30 years. There are more walkers and more riders now, but we have quite a few things in common; we are enjoying ourselves and we love our woods, and with love comes respect and care.

Now – if you are the perfect, most careful and considerate rider, please DO?NOT read on, because the last thing I want to do is patronise. However, it might not do any harm to remind ourselves that we are no angels on horseback, and we all could do with a little reflection about the basics:

While sitting "on a high horse" we must make doubly sure to be courteous towards people and nature alike. Of course, we always slow down for walkers, never trot or push past, and even come to a halt for prams, children and pets.

Anybody is entitled to be nervous of our big animals, just step aside and reassure. The same applies to meeting other horses: we never canter or trot towards them; there could be a novice above or below the saddle! Never hesitate to use the magic words "thank you" and a smile doesn't hurt even on the rainiest day.

May I take this opportunity to thank all the kind and patient drivers on the road, who slow down for us, realising, that even well mannered horses can shy and spook.

Let us be respectful of our lovely countryside with its wonderful network of paths and tracks. We should walk only on the softer paths in wet weather and avoid natural boggy patches as much as possible. In bad conditions it will hurt neither horse nor rider to go without a canter for a while, as there is no doubt that machinery, hooves and pigs can badly spoil the tracks in muddy weather – in doubt just look behind you, and if you can't see where you have been, you are alright! We are better off in that respect, as our horses go barefoot and leave less footprints behind. (It takes a few months for a horse to adjust to going without shoes, but the horse and the paths will be grateful!).

I am sorry, all the above seems a little elementary, but you would be surprised what comes to my ears, and sadly I too had a few rare unpleasant encounters with some arrogant and 'pushy' riders and it leaves a bitter taste. It is those few who spoil it for the rest of us, walkers and riders alike.

If we want to continue to enjoy the same freedom to roam and ride, it is definitely with care, courtesy and consideration, and in doing so, we make sure that in the future any restrictions will be unnecessary.

With a little give and take there will always be plenty of space for all of us to walk, ride and grunt harmoniously side by side.

Thank you for listening, thank you for caring. Have a long and happy ride

– Ursi Bools, Bradley Hill.