It never ceases to amaze me how people who know nothing about a subject rush to air their opinions.

I rode and worked with horses for more than 20 years and I went to see Spirit Of The Horse with a friend of similar experience who had also taught riding, which I have not done.

We both watched keenly (from seats beside the arena) to see if anything was wrong in the tack used or the way the horses had to perform.

We were thrilled with the whole presentation and went to the stables afterwards, along with many other people.

The whole show is imaginative, starting from the legends of the horse, through some milestones of history, to the present day.

The horses were never kept in the ring for too long and we could see they clearly loved their owners.

I think readers who have written of what they thought to be wrong would do well either to learn to ride at a very good school or ask permission to watch some first-class lessons.

They would soon realise that horses can be temperamental, many of them are very clever in getting anything they want and, with a horse being so much bigger and heavier than you, it is important for you to stay in charge for your own and others' safety and the safety of the horse itself.

The horses at Patcham are "hard fit" with no excess fat. They needed to be for their work. They are also very intelligent.

Horses would have been ridden from place to place 200 years ago, often having to make do with "inferior stabling". Now they ride in security and comfort.

By the way, schooling whips are not there to threaten the horses or scare them into submission. They are training aids used because horses don't speak human language. They are used to guide, not punish.

Finally, I suggest the writers of protest letters on this subject consult the RSPCA. That organisation is right on the ball where animal cruelty or discomfort is concerned.

But please, before you go to the RSPCA, learn a little more about the subject.

-R L James, Brighton