Concerns have been raised by horse owners after a mineral exploration company revealed plans to carry out surveys across rural land using a low-flying helicopter with a large suspended sensor.

Privately owned Aberdeen Minerals Limited posted flyers last week to properties across the northeast of Scotland informing owners of the six-week programme. The flyer states that contractor SkyTEM will be flying “low and slow”, and the hexagonal geophysical sensor will be around 35 to 50 metres above the ground. It says the helicopter will be flying at 75 to 90 metres.

The helicopter will not be flying directly over urban dwellings, farm buildings and areas of development. But the company recommends owners of animals or livestock that “may be sensitive” should be “brought under cover”.

A number of horse owners across the region have shared concerns about the plans and the lack of detailed information provided. The flyer states that further information is available online and a QR code can be scanned – but when H&H checked, this information was not available.

Zosia Patterson, who keeps an event horse at a yard in Aberdeenshire, said she is worried her gelding could suffer an injury if he becomes stressed by the helicopter.

“I’m also worried about the risk to riders. No horse is ever bombproof, however good they are. If you stress them with something bizarre that they haven‘t experienced, threatening them at a height like that, they’ll think World War III has come,“ she said. “It’s not just horses, it’s the sheep in the fields around here lambing, and the cattle. They can get injured and be killed if they run into a fence. This is people’s livelihoods.

“I don’t want to obstruct progress, but I want to be asked nicely. My biggest concern is the way the information is worded – the suggestion is that we should keep our horses in for six weeks. Are they going to pay for the shavings costs, or for someone to muck out? Let alone the fact horses could injure themselves if they’ve been kept in and not had any exercise. They haven’t thought about it.”

Cleveland Bay breeder Kate Lines, who also received the flyer, said her biggest concern is her two fillies and other youngstock.

“Cleveland Bays are on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust priority watchlist and we absolutely cannot afford to put pure-bred foals at risk. It would be an absolute tragedy if anything happened to them for the future of the breed,” she said.

“The wording on the flyer is very arrogant, there’s a complete lack of understanding and doesn’t imply there is any consultation – it’s telling us ‘This is happening’. I don’t think housing animals in these situations is the answer. ”

Kate raised concerns with the company via email on Friday (6 May) and received a response which said “Regrettably, the final details of the survey have yet to be finalised between ourselves, our contractions and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).” On Saturday (7 May) Kate received another response confirming the survey will not take part over her property.

The flyer states “Our CAA-approved airborne geophysical programme is a first for the northeast and is a safe and proven method for conducting non-invasive mineral exploration”.

“Firstly it is important to note that all required permissions to conduct this specialist low-level survey have been received from the CAA,” Aberdeen Minerals told H&H.

“In order to have secured the necessary flight authorisations from the CAA our contractor is mandated to follow all the requirements laid out in the UK aviation laws and regulations and, as with any commercial aircraft operator in the UK, the contractor holds comprehensive insurances.”

On Friday the CAA told H&H that it had received a request for permission to carry out low-level helicopter flying operations by an approved helicopter operator and it was “reviewing this request ”. On Monday (9 May) the CAA confirmed that permission had been granted.

Addressing the concerns, Aberdeen Minerals general manager Drew Craig said the company takes health and safety “very seriously” and its technical management team have several decades of experience working safely on projects around the world.

“Some enquiries have of course raised concerns related to incidents due to low-flying military aircrafts. The helicopter being used for our survey is a small single-engine aircraft, travelling at around 70 mile per hour, at around 300 feet and has a sound output of around 87 decibels – not comparable at all to much larger military helicopters or fast-moving fighter jets. Our contractor’s pilot has the ability to make course corrections whilst in the air to avoid anything that might be deemed to be at risk on the ground, or a danger to the helicopter,” he said.

“We are working closely with the helicopter contractor and SkyTEM to ensure that best practice is adhered to, and we are working closely with them to advise any concerned landowners or members of the public in advance of flight activity over their lands.”

Mr Craig said the company is in contact with the British Horse Society (BHS).

“Once the flight schedule has been finalised, the details that will be published will enable all land users to see when and where we’ll be flying. If they would like to do so, they can also register with us to have direct notification of when we’d expect any overflights to occur,” he said.

BHS Scotland national manager Helene Mauchlen said since the launch of the BHS incidents website in November 2010 the society has received more than 400 reports of horse accidents involving low-flying aircraft, of which five horses and one rider have died.

“While we value the importance of sourcing clean, zero-carbon supplies, the impact this low-flying helicopter with its suspended sensor could have on horses on the ground is a huge concern,” she said.

“We urge Aberdeen Minerals to work with the BHS to minimise risk by formulating a detailed informative plan that takes horses and their riders into consideration, and gives all horse owners/riders visibility of exactly when to expect the aircraft in their area. As one of the highest populated regions for horses in Scotland, prioritising the horses’ welfare and safety is of utmost importance across Aberdeenshire.”

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An RAF base is warning equestrians in its area of an increase in large aircraft and fighter jets in the coming week.

RAF Wittering, on the Cambridgeshire/Northamptonshire border, has alerted horse owners and the wider community to expect more planes in the first week of June.

“In circumstances such as these, reaching out to our neighbours is the right thing to do,” said group captain Jo Lincoln, station commander at RAF Wittering and the A4 Force elements commander.

“The goodwill of our neighbouring communities is of the highest value to us, and we need that relationship to continue”.

She added: “Realistic training is essential, and I am certainly pleased that the Typhoon force has chosen to come here for a brief detachment.”

Transport aircraft and Typhoon jets will be flying from the base in daylight hours (8am-6pm) from Monday (31 May) to Friday (4 June).

The airfield will take on the role of an “underused airstrip in a foreign country” in the exercise, which involves logistics and engineering units that support RAF operations across the world, heavy freight and passenger aircraft plus Typhoon jets from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

This will be the first time since the 100th anniversary of the RAF in 2018 that fast jets have operated from Wittering.

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“Our airfield is a brilliant military asset and it’s only right that defence makes maximum use of it,” said wing commander Jez Case, who is the officer commanding Operations Wing.

“We have skilled and experienced team in Operations Wing who are well used to handling many different aircraft types, so I’m very optimistic about this exercise and hope we see more aircraft coming here in the future.”

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A helicopter company has been overwhelmed by the positive response it has received after offering free high-vis vests to local riders.

Cobham Helicopter Academy, based at Newquay airport, announced on social media it would be giving out free high-vis to riders in Devon and Cornwall after realising its pilots were struggling to see them.

Andrew Catterall, a senior rearcrew instructor with the company, was inspired by his wife Lynsey, who events with her mare Lily, to help riders be seen from the air.

“We’ve only been in the area since 2017, but we’ve had a recent increase in the amount of flying we’ve been doing. It became noticeable there was a lot of people hacking, particularly on the moors, without high-vis and it makes them very difficult to see,” Andrew told H&H.

“If we’re doing 120mph in the air, horses and riders tend to blend into the background unless they’ve got something to make them stand out.”

Andrew approached his boss, Tony O’Connor, with the idea of giving out free high-vis to riders and he was given a budget to fund the vests.

“Horses and helicopters don’t mix well so if we can stay apart, so much the better. If we do see riders, one of the things we try not to do is manoeuvre too quickly because that makes the blades slap and you get the extra noise which can startle horses. The further away we can see riders the more gently we can manoeuvre round them or try to avoid them,” said Andrew.

“Depending on what we’re doing we could be flying from anywhere around 2,500 feet to a couple of hundred feet. When we’re doing low-level flying it tends to be open land and that’s where people are out on horses.”

The company put an advert on Facebook and Andrew said “it’s gone crazy!”

“We’re very conscious of horses. Because we’re relatively new to Cornwall, by giving out vests it lets everyone know we’re here – and it makes them easier for us to see,” he said.

“I initially thought we might have 60 or 70 people get in touch, but we’ve reached 175. It’s worth every penny to help keep people safe and reduce any distress to horses or riders.”

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Andrew said the feedback has been “brilliant”.

“It’s been a shock. I expected to get some comments about helicopters flying around annoying them but it’s all been really positive,” he said.

“I’ve seen how a horse can react and I’ve heard scary stories from Lynsey when she is out hacking — there needs to be more awareness of horses out riding.”

The company will be issuing the high-vis vests to riders in the next few days and hopes to run the scheme again in the future.

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The owner of a much-loved mare who died after a Chinook helicopter flew “very low” over her field wants the RAF to explain why the aircraft was there.

Jeff and Linda Brown’s 21-year-old Arab G Elinor (Ellie) became impaled on a broken fence rail after the helicopter appeared without warning in Brookville, Norfolk, last Tuesday (6 November). She died almost instantly.

Mr Brown told H&H that in her panic, Ellie had previously skidded into the fence side-on, breaking the top two rails.

“The helicopter spooked her into a panic,” he said.

“It appeared suddenly over the treeline, so low there was no noise preceding it, and Ellie was just terrified. We’re near an RAF and a US air force base so she’s used to some low-flying jets, but not like this.

“She was tied up for the farriers, when she pulled back and bolted.”

Panicking, Ellie galloped towards the fence, skidding into and breaking it, then towards a neighbouring field where there was another horse.

“She bolted back down the paddock and where she’d broken the rail, there was a shard of 2×4 rail sticking out,” Mr Brown said. “She ran on to it.

“It went into her chest and heart about 15 inches deep. My wife was running towards her but my daughter was closer and she sent my wife away.

“Ellie collapsed off the fence and went straight down; she was dead within 10 to 15 seconds, almost before she hit the floor.”

Mr Brown has reported the incident to the RAF’s low-flying aircraft complaints unit, which is investigating.

“I think they should be held responsible in some way,” he said. “But that won’t bring Ellie back.

“She was everything to my wife; we’d had her 15 years and they’d been Endurance GB members, competing up and down the country including the Golden Horseshoe, and my wife still rode her regularly; they were entered for a 40km ride next week.

“She was such a good mare; we’re by a byway, and everyone who walked up there knew her as she’d come and see them, and they’d feed her carrots.

“She was very friendly and personable, but she was an Arab mare, and full of spirit. If she’d been a cob or a New Forest pony, it might not have happened, but then she wouldn’t have been Ellie.

“She was just one of us, a family member. She was well respected, and much, much loved.”

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An RAF spokesman said: “The RAF has been made aware of an incident involving the death of a horse in Norfolk. The Low flying Complaints Unit is carrying out an investigation and therefore, it would be inappropriate to offer comment whilst the investigation is ongoing.”

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The owner of a riding school at which a group of children all fell off as the result of the Red Arrows “screaming up the ponies’ bottoms” would like to prevent a similar situation from happening anywhere else.

Ruth Gardiner, of Enborne Equestrian Centre in west Berkshire, said all four of the ponies in the school spooked when the RAF display team “zoomed” overhead last Saturday lunchtime (8 September).

“It frightened them all to death – the ponies shot off and the children all fell off,” Ruth told H&H. “Seven of the jets basically went whooshing straight up the ponies’ bottoms.”

The four children riding are novices, Ruth said, not long off the lead rein and learning to canter.

“It’s all so new to them at that stage so they couldn’t react,” she said, adding that the adults riding separately on site managed to remain on board and in control.

“The Red Arrows came up behind the ponies rather than the horses; we were lucky not to lose the ride of adults too,” she said.

The flying display team was overhead for some 20 minutes, disrupting much of the rest of the ride even after the fallen children and their ponies had been reunited.

“Luckily no one was hurt and the instructor managed to get them trotting round by the end, on the lead reins again,” Ruth said. “But I bet I will lose some of the riders.

“You generally find with things like this, where children have got really scared, it either takes a very long time to get them confident again or one or two of them will decide not to come back, which would be very sad.”

Ruth contacted the Ministry of Defence, to be told that one of the parents concerned had also made a complaint.

“It sounded like they’re taking it seriously, but the main thing is that it doesn’t happen again,” she said. “It’s about raising awareness. We had the full Red Arrows team directly above us; if we’d had enough notice, we could have had a game plan for how to avoid them.”

An RAF spokesman said: ‘The RAF can confirm that a display by the Red Arrows at the ‘Heroes at Highclere’ charity event was completed on 8 September. We are aware of a number of complaints from a riding school close to the transit route to Highclere, and will respond to these in due course.

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“We apologise for any disturbance caused to the public by this activity. As with all Red Arrows events, their presence at Highclere was extensively publicised in advance across a variety of media channels to enable local residents to be aware of what was planned.”

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An equestrian who campaigns for riders to wear hi-viz so pilots could spot them has said the “system works” after encountering a low-flying helicopter while out hacking.

Lincolnshire-based Sandra Murphy worked with the MOD to improve safety for riders following the death of Heather Bell, who was killed when when her horse was spooked by a Chinook in 2004.

Last week, Sandra was out for a ride with her daughter when they saw a helicopter approaching. She captured the incident on her phone camera as she was filming Jesse, the horse her daughter was riding, who has recently returned from an injury.

“My daughter kept turning round to look at a helicopter that was flying really low,” Sandra said. “Another one then appeared right on top of us travelling at around 150ft.

“I’d literally only washed my hi-viz the day before and he must have seen us as he suddenly turned hard right to avoid us, flew round as and then got back on course.

“My mare was as good as gold as you can see from the footage, but the helicopter was flying a lot lower than it appears in the clip and it was loud. Horses are prey animals and she could have easily be spooked by something overhead.”

Sandra said that after years of campaigning, it was rewarding to see the system working and the pilot taking evasive action.

“I’m pleased to know he was taking notice of what was going on on the ground as it avoided what could have been a nasty incident,” she said.

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Sandra lives locally to where Heather’s fatal accident took place and was affected by the same Chinook flying low overhead that day.

“My mare went through a fence and I screamed and hit the deck — it was flying so low and came right over the top of my house,” Sandra recalled. “I was in the RAF for 12 years, but that’s the lowest I have ever seen an aircraft other than on an airfield.”

Because of her experience in the airforce, Sandra volunteered to work with the MOD to improve safety following the accident.

“If a low flying incident was reported, I dealt with the MOD, and it was a role I continued with for quite some time,” Sandra said. “After the inquest several things were put in place and the low flying incidents went down significantly and I didn’t need to do it any more.

“The hi-viz campaign, which was through the BHS, went well and most people now wear it as a matter of course. We agreed with the MOD riders needed to maximize their visibility, but that they also needed to agree to not fly at such low heights.

“What happened out on our hack just shows that working together like that was the way forward.”

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One of Britian’s busiest Royal Air Force (RAF) bases has been providing riders with free high-vis gear to help keep them safe while out riding.

RAF Wittering, near Peterborough, has handed out branded day-glo tabards, hat bands and exercise sheets.

The move came as the RAF’s Chinook helicopter force was due to arrive at the base for training, which runs until early November.

“Obviously I’m very pleased that RAF Wittering can demonstrate the utility of its airfield by hosting the Chinook force,” said group captain Tony Keeling, RAF Wittering’s station commander.

“For many, Chinooks will be an unfamiliar noise in our skies. We want to make sure that our nearby equestrian communities feel informed and have an opportunity to get the equipment they need before flying commences in order to maximise their safety.”

A spokesman for the base added high-vis clothing means pilots are able to spot riders at a greater distance, giving them more time to take avoiding action.

“RAF Wittering is a busy place, we support deployed air operations and train future pilots here,” added Captain Keeling.

“We use the roads and the skies daily, so I’m keen that we reach out to the equestrian community to inform them of a change in operations and help to maximise safety.”

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The stock was in such high demand that all the equipment was gone within a day of the base’s announcement on 5 October. More is hoped to arrive soon.

The British Horse Society advises riders to wear high-vis at all times while out riding — both on and off the roads — to give them the best chance of being spotted by pilots.

The Ministry of Defence also has a helpline on 0800 515544, where riders can find out more information about planned low-level flying in their area.

This is manned on weekdays between 8am-5pm from November to March; and 8am-8pm from April to October.

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A horse’s life is on the line after he ran into a gate when a low-flying helicopter passed over his field.

Terrified two-year-old BOGOF Pete hit the gate with such force, he bent it in half and suffered a severe facial injury.

Marilyn Stead, who runs a hunt hireling business in Cornwall, owns the youngster.

She told H&H that due to the severity of Pete’s wound, she is unsure if he will survive.

“Pete was in blind panic when he ran into the gate, we’re lucky he didn’t break his neck,” she said.

“His injuries are life-threatening. The perforation on the side of his face goes through to the inside of his mouth and there is bone fragments in the wound.

“Pete is very bright in himself but the problem is his perforated cheek — food comes out of his mouth and into his wound.”

Click here to view the wound — warning very graphic image.

Marilyn was at a point-to-point when the incident took place.

“My neighbour saw it happen and the helicopter was definitely very low — it swept over the trees above our field of youngsters.

“Another one must have come over too as he’s now lame.”

BOGOF Pete was given his unusual name due to his unexpected arrival.

Unknown to Marilyn, when she bought her hunting mare Suzy (pictured below with Pete), she was in foal.

Marilyn described Pete as “a good sort”.

“He was a lovely surprise and the makings of a cracking type for the future,” she said.

Pete is having emergency veterinary treatment and Marilyn is now appealing for information about the helicopter.

She has been tirelessly trying to trace the aircraft as she hopes the pilot can help with Pete’s spiralling vet bills.

“The vets have been amazing but they are not free,” she added.

“I know that no-one would deliberately scare an animal but it does show a level of negligence. What if my daughter was riding at the time?

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“Low flying aircraft are becoming more and more of a problem. I find it incredulous that private aircraft owners are not obliged to notify the aviation authorities and airports of their movements.”

The helicopter flew over Marilyn’s 200-acre sheep farm near Truro on 14 May between 3 and 3.30pm.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Marilyn by calling 07737382649.

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Three horses have died after low-flying aircraft passed over Cornwall.

Two jets flew over the county last Wednesday (12 April).

Rider Claire Sexton keeps her horse at a yard in Bissoe, between Truro and Redruth.

Her yard owner is a knackerman who had to put down two horses on 12 April and another the following day.

It is believed the horses were injured after being spooked by the jets.

Two suffered broken legs and another had stress-related colic.

“My yard owner, a skilled and experienced licensed knackerman, was asked to go out to shoot three horses in succession, in three different locations,” Ms Sexton told H&H.

“[He] saw the jets really low before — he said when they flew over his farm, they were so low that he could see the pilots’ faces.”

Ms Sexton shared the news on social media to discover if other horse or livestock had been affected and she found that two other horses had been injured in the area; a mare found lame and a horse who had a fall that resulted in facial injuries.

“What if I’d been out riding on a busy road when those planes had flown overhead?” she said.

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“We have the Culdrose naval air-base about 15 miles as the crow flies from my yard, eight to 10 miles from the homes of the other fatalities, and the air ambulance is not unheard of, so horses in the area are relatively used to aircraft, but these were exceptionally fast, low and noisy, apparently, as the anecdotal evidence in the Facebook thread attests.”

When contacted by Horse & Hound, RNAS Culdrose stated that the jets were not theirs, but US aircraft from RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk.

H&H has approached RAF Lakenheath for a comment and will update this article as soon as a response is received.

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A low-flying Dakota plane caused chaos in a showing ring at Lincolnshire County on 19 June.

The World War II plane was due to fly over the show at 12.15pm, but due to a delay went over later than planned.

Show staff say they were not informed of the change.

Bystanders said the plane was about 100ft over the ring where 19 first ridden mountain and moorlands had just started the class. It returned over the same ring 30sec later.

Four children were unseated.

“Ponies scattered, children were screaming, parents were running in. It was quite horrific,” said judge Helen Turner.

“There was no prior warning at all. We were given warnings about the Red Arrows display, but they flew over the car park.”

Mrs Turner said she gave the ponies time to settle and called them all back into the ring.

“We didn’t think it was fair for the children not to be able to start the class again,” she said.

The children were then stood down again due to parachutists coming into the main ring and letting off flares.

The steward for the class, Joanne Griffin, said: “If these attractions have to take place, lessons must be learnt regarding timetabling and communications. Ponies and planes do not mix.”

Jayne Southall of Lincolnshire Showground said: “In future, we will be asking all our aircraft partners to ensure they keep to time slots, in order to keep to our strict timetable.”

She was “very sorry” and said she will be making “tighter stipulations” on where planes can fly over the showground area “to prevent these incidents in the future”.

H&H columnist Stuart Hollings was judging at the show later in the day. His stewards told him to stand down the show hunter pony class for 10min for the Red Arrows display.

“On this occasion, at least we were aware,” he said.

For full Lincolnshire County report don’t miss this week’s issue of H&H out today (3 July).

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (3 July, 2014)

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The owner of a sick horse that had to be euthanased after being spooked by a low-flying Virgin hot air balloon is writing to Sir Richard Branson about the incident.

Liz Jones’ 18-year-old mare Della was being treated for equine herpes (EHV-1) when the balloon flew low over her field at Friar Park Stables in Henley, Oxon, on 10 August. The pilot had just aborted a landing at the town’s rugby club.

Mrs Jones said there was a “massive roar” and flames as the pilot put the burners on. Della tried to bolt, but fell to the ground. She was unable to get up and was put to sleep.

“The vet had seen some improvement [in her symptoms] and said if she could make it through the night, there was a chance,” said Mrs Jones.

She is mystified as to how Della contracted EHV-1, as she does not compete the mare, bought for her daughter Kathryn who is now at university. Quarantine procedures are in place at the yard.

“I’m writing to Mr Branson’s office to say that his pilots should not be flying that low. I want to draw pilots’ attention to livestock below and to be careful around horses,” said Mrs Jones.

A spokesman for Virgin said they were “truly sorry” to hear about the loss of Della, but they did not believe that the pilot — who has 30 years’ experience — had been irresponsible.

The area has been used for balloon landings and launches for seven years “without an issue”, he added.

“All balloon pilots are trained to consider the welfare of livestock. In this case, it appears that an unfortunate set of circumstances, including the fact the horse was unwell, culminated in this very sad outcome.”

The yard has now been marked as a “sensitive area” on ballooning maps.

Earlier this year, it emerged that Virgin settled an injury claim, after one of its hot air balloons spooked a horse in Cambridgeshire, injuring itself and its teenager handler.

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The UK’s largest balloon flight company, Virgin, has admitted causing damage after one of its hot air balloons spooked a grazing horse, which injured itself and its handler.

Two years after the incident in July 2011, Virgin agreed to a settlement, which required a judge’s approval as the claimant was a minor at the time of the accident.

Jessica Fuller-Bray, now 17, was hand-grazing her 16.3hh Hanoverian near Chatteris, Cambs, when a hot-air balloon began descending towards the paddock. When the pilot tried to regain height, the noise of the gas scared the horse, which reared, broke free and jumped the post-and-rail fence before crashing into new arena fencing.

“Not only was damage caused to the property, but Jessica had a rope burn and sharp jolt to the shoulder,” said personal injury solicitor James Reilly of Ralli law firm, in Manchester.

“This resulted in soft tissue injuries which warranted medical referral to an orthopaedic surgeon and physio.”

Virgin has apologised for the “damage and distress” caused.

The family submitted a claim for the vet bill, damage to property and personal injuries. Virgin agreed to a settlement of the injury claim.

“When the pilot saw the horses he did everything possible to avoid a disturbance by aborting the landing and using the quieter ‘whisper’ burner only once to maintain altitude,” said a spokesman for the company.

“The pilot returned to apologise directly after the flight and provided the requested details to enable a claim. We operate 1,500 flights a year and incidents of this kind are rare.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (11 July, 2013 issue)

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If riders want to prevent accidents arising from low-flying aircraft, they must understand how invisible they are in the countryside, say pilots.

For Group Captain Dom Toriati, there is one thing riders could do to reduce the stress levels of his pilots on low-flying sorties – and ensure their horses are not spooked in the process.

“Wear high-visibility gear,” he told H&H. “Not just for riding on the roads, but every time you go out.”

Gp CaptToriati – who is station commander at RAF Odiham, Hants, home of the UK’s fleet of Chinooks – was speaking at a meeting at the base for figures from the horseworld recently. It followed concerns aired in H&H about low flying.

Last year, racehorse trainer Ann Duffield suffered what she felt was a “deliberate” attempt by a Chinook pilot to panic her horses on the gallops in North Yorkshire.

A Ministry of Defence (MoD) investigation found no offence was committed, but Mrs Duffield’s concerns prompted the National Trainers’ Federation (NTF) to ask riders to report their experiences, in an attempt to establish the scale of the problem.

Gp CaptToriati told the group – including representatives of the NTF, H&H and local yards – that his pilots were trained to avoid riders wherever possible.

“There is a terrible way of looking at flying, that it’s just a boys’ game. But we are doing a real piece of work here,” he said.

“To minimise exposure to the enemy [in Afghanistan], our crews fly at approximately 100 feet – and it takes a lot of training to do that,” he added.

Gp CaptToriati acknowledged that such training could cause problems for riders – but stressed horses were often invisible to his pilots.

“When I receive correspondence from the public, it is always, ‘Why didn’t you see me, why didn’t the crew try to avoid me?’

“But it will be because they haven’t seen them,” he added.

Delegates were then taken up in a Chinook to observe the limited visibility from the cockpit.

Doug Fowler, flight safety officer for the station, explained: “We are flying at 2 1/2 miles per minute, so you need to spot a hazard several hundred yards away to take evasive action.

“If riders are in hi-viz clothing, the crew can pick them out – and have time to act.”

Flight Lieutenant Scott Eldridge said he had managed to “box round” riders during a recent sortie, because of their attire.

“We could see two large fluorescent objects against the hedge line. As we got closer, we could see they were horses, draped in hi-viz rugs – they were so obvious, I wanted to stop and shake the riders’ hands,” he said.

Judy Crossfield of the NTF said the day had been an “eye-opener”.

“More than 40 people contacted us to complain about low-flying,” she said. “I don’t doubt that these episodes took place, but I do wonder if riders could do more to help themselves.

“But all those that did contact the MoD complained about the attitude of the personnel they’d spoken to,” she added.

Gp CaptToriati said people who complained directly to him – and were unsatisfied with his response – would be invited to come to the base.

He also agreed to look at adding Chinook movements to the forecast of daily flying activity available on the freephone number: 0800 515544.

Sheila Hardy of the British Horse Society (BHS) – who worked with the MoD to establish the low-flying guidelines – told H&H she was satisfied military personnel had “gone as far as they could”.

“I will be to talking to RAF Odiham about putting their movements on the phoneline,” she said.

“But I was astounded how invisible horses can be. There has to be some meeting halfway and we have to take responsibility for ourselves,” she added.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (31 May 2012)

Browse high-viz products for you and your horse in H&H’s online shop

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Ministry of Defence investigators say no offence was committed by a pilot accused of deliberately flying low over a string of racehorses (news, 4 October).

Ann Duffield, who trains at Sun Hill Farm in North Yorkshire, has received a letter from the-then defence secretary, Liam Fox – via her MP, William Hague – to say the case was closed.

“I wasn’t surprised,” she told H&H. “I didn’t think we would get anywhere. But I have asked William Hague to take this further – on behalf of other riders.”

The letter from Mr Fox confirms that the Chinook pilot had been in the area conducting “tactical climbs and descents” and he apologises for “the disturbance experienced”.

But the Defence Secretary stresses that “neither he [the pilot] nor any of the crew… had seen any horse riders“.

He goes on to say that Chinooks have “poor view beneath the aircraft” and suggests that the riders should have been wearing high-visibility tabards.

Mrs Duffield told H&H: “They are looking for excuses. We do have hi-viz vests but they wouldn’t have made a jot of difference that day – it was bright and sunny.”

The case prompted the National Trainers’ Federation (NTF) to ask other riders

to contact them with their experiences.

Rupert Arnold, chief executive of the NTF, told H&H he had received more than

40 submissions.

“Given the amount of evidence we’ve accumulated, our view is that there is a general case [for the MOD] to answer,” he said.

“There is a persuasive argument that the guidelines for low-flying need to be changed,” he added.

Mr Arnold plans to approach the MOD through the British Horse Industry Confederation (BHIC), which represents several equestrian bodies.

Mrs Duffield believes action needs to be taken swiftly.”Our case has unearthed a massive problem,” she said.

“These might seem like isolated incidents, but they aren’t when you add them together,” she added. “They might not come over me again, but they will kill some other poor sod.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse and Hound (17 November 2011)

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A story in H&H about a low-flying Chinook helicopter spooking racehorses (news, 29 September) has had a “tremendous” response from readers who say the same thing has happened to them.

Trainer Ann Duffield’s experiences prompted Rupert Arnold of the National Trainers’ Federation (NTF) to ask H&H readers to contact him, in an attempt to establish the scale of the problem.

Mr Arnold told H&H his office had been “inundated”.

“It has been incredibly useful,” he said. “We have heard of some very disturbing incidents – and it is clear to us that a review of low flying by the Ministry of Defence [MOD] and the British Horse Society [BHS] a few years ago is not working.”

He said incidents had been reported from the south of England, the Midlands and the Scottish Borders.

In one case, Mr Arnold said a horse jumped a hedge, landing on a member of the public and injuring them.

In another, a group of riders wearing high-visibility jackets were “constantly buzzed” by a pilot in “open country”.

“There is absolutely no reason for this sort of behaviour,” he added.

The MOD told H&H it did not comment on individual cases.

But a spokesman said low flying was “an essential part of ensuring operational success” in Afghanistan.

“What appears to be happening from the ground is not necessarily what is happening in the cockpit,” he added.

Low-flying guidelines were reviewed in 2005 by the MOD – at the request of the Lincolnshire coroner.

It followed the death of rider Heather Bell – whose horse was spooked by a helicopter.

The BHS worked closely with the MOD – which agreed to raise the low-level flying height limit where possible.

But Mr Arnold says new guidelines are needed.

“After the death of Heather Bell, the MOD was instructed to ensure that this never happened again,” he said.

“The information we have received from H&H readers shows there is a very real danger of a repeat.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (20 October, 2011)

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Riders campaigning for a drop in the hours logged by routine low-flying RAF aircraft have been rewarded by a 14.4 per cent decrease nationwide, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The stats reveal that RAF aircraft logging low-flying hours in the UK’s airspace dropped by 8,639 hours in the past year. The number of complaints has fallen by 14.6 per cent.

When Lincolnshire rider Heather Bell died after falling from her horse, which was spooked by a Chinook in 2003, the British Horse Society (BHS) set up a safety campaign calling for more restrictions on low-flying military aircraft. A 17.6 per cent decrease of low-flying hours was recorded last year over Lincolnshire, a county particularly affected by training aircraft. Correspondingly, the number of complaints has dropped by 30.4 per cent.

BHS director of safety Mark Weston said: “We realise that the RAF needs to carry out low-flying manoeuvres as part of its training procedure, but from our point of view any reduction in the number of low-flying hours is a positive step forward for the safety of horse riders.”

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A woman believes that a flyover by the Red Arrows aerobatics display at the Plymouth Air Show on Thursday 3 September caused her potential dressage horse to panic in its stable and break its neck.

Alfie, a two-year-old, German warmblood, worth £7,000, was discovered dead in his stable just minutes after the airshow.

A post-mortem examination found that he died from a broken vertebrae caused by a head-on collision, which severed the spinal cord at the base of his skull.

It is believed that he bolted as nine, low-flying Hawk T1 jets flew over his stable.

His owner, Laura Head from Plymouth, believes that he was trying to escape the roar of the jets: “There were no external injuries. He looked like he panicked and ran straight into a wall, hitting his head on the stable ceiling or on the doorway.

“He must have been absolutely terrified of the jets because he is usually such a placid horse,” she told the Daily Telegraph.

Miss Head, who had bought Alfie just 10 days earlier from a breeder in Nottinghamshire, emphasised that the other horses in the stables were also distressed as the planes were flying so low.

She has launched an official complaint against the RAF, and is now considering legal action.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said that although low-flying training is carried out across the UK, “aircrew do not fly over livestock or horses deliberately, and try to avoid them wherever it is safe and practicable to do so”.

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Horse riders in northern England and Scotland are being warned to take extra care out riding for the next three days due to planned low flying aircraft.

The planned RAF and NATO combined exercise is taking place today (Tuesday 28 April) until Thursday (30 April) and will generate a lot of low flying aircraft in the area.

The British Horse Society has warned riders to ensure they wear high-vis gear when out riding. The BHS is also advising riders put high-vis gear on their horses. This will enable pilots to see riders and steer clear better.

Exercise Wycombe Warrior 01-09 and the NATO Electronic Warfare Integration Programme will be made up of up to 70 sorties a day — and low flying will be restricted to between 10am and 6pm.

Exercise planners and participating aircrew have said they will do what they can to ensure the training activity causes minimum disruption to the public and horse riders.

For more information call: 0800 515544

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A horse breeder is petitioning the government to have the minimum height aircraft can fly over equestrian yards raised.

Planes and helicopters can currently fly 100ft from the ground, but Lady Julie Daly, of Lillingstone Equestrian, a stud in Buckinghamshire, wants the law adjusted so aircraft must keep a minimum distance of 200ft above stable areas.

Lady Daly has contacted the Ministry of Defence (MoD) regularly since December 2008 about the number of military aircraft flying over her yard.

She said: “I requested they moved the flight path slightly to avoid the yard. But I was told that if they protected horses in one area, they could not easily refuse a similar request.”

Lady Daly breeds the rare Bohemian Equus Kinsky.

She claims that in February her husband Michael photographed an EH 101 Merlin helicopter as it flew at a height he estimated as 80ft.

She said: “The MoD is being evasive and irresponsible.”

Sheila Hardy of the British Horse Society (BHS) said deaths had already been caused by horses being frightened by low-flying aircraft — one in 1996 and two more in 2003. But since then, she said the MoD had worked closely with the BHS to cut the dangers — and they advocate all riders wearing high-visibility clothing.

The MoD set up a hotline riders can use to check for low-flying helicopters in their area and also offers to set up temporary no-fly zones for events like horse shows.

An MoD spokesman said: “Low-level flying is an essential and demanding skill. Unless there is a pressing need the MoD does not low-fly at weekends or on public holidays so the majority of riders can enjoy their leisure time undisturbed.”

• To sign Lady Daly’s online petition go to http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Altitude/

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (16 August, ’09)

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The armed forces rarely receive accolades at equestrian events, but that changed last week when the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was honoured at the British Horse Society (BHS) annual awards in London.

The MoD received the society’s safety award for its research in the wake of the Heather Bell tragedy. Mrs Bell died from head injuries in 2003 after being thrown from her horse, who had been spooked by a low-flying Chinook helicopter.

As a result of Mrs Bell’s death, the MoD launched “Operation Bright Eyes”, an RAF-led project that included research on the wearing of fluorescent clothing in areas where there might be low-flying aircraft.

This led to 1,300 sets of high-visibility clothing being given away by the MoD to members of the public, better detail on low-flying exercise from the MoD (tel: 0800 515554) and a facility for show organisers to request avoidance for specific events.

“We’re absolutely delighted to be here among all these deserving winners,” said Air Commodore Dick Garwood. “I hope we can find more money next year to enable us to give away more of these kits.”

BHS award winners

ACCESS AWARD (For the BHS member who has done most for equestrian access): Avril Sleeman

ACCESS AWARD (For the public agency which has done most for equestrian access): Ministry of Defence, Fylingdale

ACCESS AWARD (For the Metropolitan Borough most active in opening up equestrian routes): North Tyneside Council / The Waggonways Project

ACCESS AWARD (For the local Authority/National Park most active in opening up equestrian routes): Buckinghamshire County Council

THE BODYNFOEL AWARD (For the person who has done the most to promote The British Horse Society): Virginia Scott-Watson

LEO HARRIS AWARD (For outstanding service to the Riding Clubs movement): Mrs Ann Foss

SAFETY AWARD (For the organisation who has done most to promote equestrian safety): The Ministry of Defence

BHS SILVER STIRRUP (In recognition of support for young riders): Mrs Mary Walker

TRAINERS AWARD (For the person who has made an outstanding contribution to equestrian training): Ian Woodhead

WELFARE AWARD (For contribution to equine welfare over many years): Roy and Margaret Raikes-May

WELFARE AWARD (For extraordinary assistance by an outside body to Equine Welfare): Shane Dickman, Kent Police

WELFARE AWARD (For best achievement to advance welfare of all equines): The Animal Health Trust

WELFARE AWARD (For an outstanding contribution to the well-being of equines): Harry Paviour

CHAIRMAN’S COMMENDATION (For Outstanding Performance by a Local Committee of The British Horse Society): The Organising Committee of the European TREC Championships 2006

TARQUIN TROPHY (For significant contribution to the cause of equestrian safety): Mrs Alison Edwards and Mr Richard Holt

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now