I HAVE in recent times been in touch with the Forestry Commission about the increase of the wild boar and the impact this is having on the horse riders and carriage driving community. 

As secretary of the Forest of Dean Horse Riders and Carriage Drivers Association, I have had many incidents concerning the boar and horses reported to me and we are very concerned about the safety of local riders and carriage drivers. The forest was once a very safe environment for horse riders and carriage drivers who wanted to keep off the busy main roads, but now a lot of riders are avoiding it because of the boar.  Not all horses are frightened by them, but a good number are.  I have personal experience as my horse is terrified of them; he only has to pick up their scent and I'm in trouble!  The problem has become dangerous for me now, particularly as I drive a carriage as well as ride. I have reluctantly come to the very sad decision that my horse cannot live in the Forest of Dean with the boar, and I have to sell him. This is a successful competition horse, who in every respect is perfect for me, except for his very real fear of the boar.  I am obviously very, very upset about this situation.

The Forestry Commission have said: "They are here to stay, so we just have to learn to live with them."  From my observations, it is mainly tourists who want to keep them here, not many people who live in the forest do. Mr Stannard, Deputy Surveyor of the FC, has assured me that they do take this threat seriously and the FC seem to be making a good effort now to keep the boar at a reasonable level.  Obviously he has a difficult job to satisfy everyone and has to find a balance.  The cull has now stopped, as it has reached the target of 150 for this year.  Meanwhile, they will continue to breed and multiply.

Last week in the early morning I found a Shetland pony coming down the road in a state of some agitation.  I put it safely in my paddock.  Apparently, the boar got into the paddock and did significant damage to the ground and frightened the pony out of its paddock, which was a half a mile away.  

Some experienced riders in the area have stopped riding many of the tracks because their horses are frightened by the boar and they feel unsafe. 

I have elderly friends who are now frightened to walk their dogs in the forest for fear of being attacked – they certainly couldn't move very quickly should this happen.

The boar turn up anywhere/everywhere; there is even a family now evident in the undergrowth a few hundred yards at the end of my road.  Although classified as dangerous wild animals, some do not appear to be truly wild, or nocturnal.

I think Mr Kear's suggestion (last week's Review) of putting the boar in compounds is a very good one. It would satisfy the tourists and those who want to photograph them and the horse riders could then avoid these areas and keep safe.

I understand in some parts of  Eastern France in 2009 half a million were culled, but they are still out of control as they are in other parts of the continent.  It would be awful if this happened here

– E Rye, Forest of Dean Horse Riders and Carriage Drivers Association.