May 2007 • VOLUME 21 • © HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine

Dear Ms Moffett

I have read your letter addressed to me which appears to be an identical letter to that you addressed to David Prince. As the BHS has a zero-tolerance policy to letters addressed to volunteers or staff which are personal or offensive, I asked him not to reply.

The bunch of “lily-livered” individualists you referred to are Trustees, of which I am one. {vieiownly=registered,special}Trustees are also volunteers, the majority of whom are democratically elected by the members. Any voting member, between the ages of 18 and 70, is able to stand for election. We give our time freely and work for the good of the Society, and therefore the horse, whilst in many cases having also to earn a living.

Instead of continually attacking the BHS with letters written in this tone, and through forums on equestrian websites, perhaps you could take the trouble to discover what the Society is doing to keep the Rollkur issue, and therefore welfare issues, in the public eye. Likewise, instead of publicly attacking all BHS instructors and approved riding schools (criticisms which are of such sweeping generality that they call into question your judgment on everything else you say), why not provide us with hard evidence - which to my knowledge you have never done - so that we are able to address the issues you raise. We simply cannot and will not act on hearsay.

Unlike you, I have every hope for the future of riding in the UK. Of course, there will always be issues that give cause for concern, but in my experience these issues are best dealt with in a positive proactive way with regard to the dignity of those concerned. Your policy of favoring polemic, offensive language and an arrogant assumption that those with whom you disagree must ipso facto all be wrong is one which has never appealed to me nor, I suspect, to most people.

By contrast, you may wish to re-read Sylvia Loch's letter published in the last issue of British Horse. Although deeply critical, it was simple and therefore worthy of publication. Sylvia also offered constructive help in private e-mails which may be acted on.

I would like to conclude by assuring you that BHS will always respond to any correspondence addressed in a civil tone.

Yours sincerely

Patrick Print FBHS
Chairman

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