TRIP wires have been found across Forest tracks – and horse riders say they are a deliberate and potentially murderous way to try and drive them out of local woods.
The wires had been carefully placed about 12 inches from the ground across several woodland rides in the Yorkley-Viney Hill area. And another rider has also confirmed the discovery of a wire secured at about four feet from the ground near Pillowell.
"Fortunately my horse stopped at the wire but a cyclist might not have been so lucky. He could have been sent flying with potentially fatal results," she told the Review.
"This sort of thing is unnecessary and dangerous. If it continues there is a very nasty accident waiting to happen."
Her words were echoed by horse rider Dawn Wilson, of Yorkley, who also discovered a wire crossing a ride near Viney Hill church.
"If a horse had been cantering rather than walking the result could have been fatal. It was a very silly thing to do," she said.
In a letter to the Review Mrs Wilson's husband, Duncan, said laying obstacles and traps across Forest rides was the work of "misguided fools".
"I pray that the death of any Forest user, be it man or beast, is never the result of such foolhardy actions," he wrote.
Mrs Wilson, who keeps her horses in a paddock near Danby Lodge, said she, her daughter and friends, rode only where they were allowed to do so and were being unfairly blamed for damage to local tracks.
She said she was looking forward to the publication of a network map being produced by Forest Enterprise which would detail the hard track rides available throughout the Forest.
"I believe we are often blamed unfairly for damage to Forest tracks. There are many other activities taking place which cause more problems," said Mrs Wilson.
For Forest Enterprise, Val Long said the network map was in the final consultation stage. It would show the best hard tracks available to horse riders while guiding them away from the "green" rides.
She said there had been an increase in complaints about damage caused by horse riders in the Yorkley area.
After the publication of the network map the use of "green" rides could become a bye-law offence.
"After a given number of warnings a rider could then be taken to task," she said.