A HORSE lover has slammed walkers for putting animals and people in danger after a wire fence surrounding a private grazing field was cut and trampled. Karen Fraser, 30, who keeps a horse and a pony in a field by Chambers Lane in Ickleford, said she was

A HORSE lover has slammed walkers for putting animals and people in danger after a wire fence surrounding a private grazing field was cut and trampled.

Karen Fraser, 30, who keeps a horse and a pony in a field by Chambers Lane in Ickleford, said she was "disgusted and saddened" by the action which she believes was done by walkers who previously used a footpath across the field.

She said: "The land is privately owned but was left open, but in the last couple of weeks the land has been fenced in for the purpose of grazing. They have cut it where the footpath is. The people who have done that are more than likely to be older people, which is shocking.

"My horses and the public are being put at risk by this criminal act of trespass and damage. My horse stands over seven feet tall and is very powerful. I am worried if he were to kick out at a person or dog in his field, he would cause serious injury or worse.

"I also have my children's miniature pony in the field who escaped after an older fence was trampled down. He could easily get under the cut wire. He could become injured or stray on to the roads and cause a major incident."

Repairs have been made to the fence by Ickleford Equestrian Centre which maintains the land.