"Someone has placed a new lockable metal bollard in the centre of the bridleway and it has a sharp-edged square top which sliced right through a horse's leg."

Says Mike Brownlow

One of our horses was seriously injured out on a ride. Someone has placed a new lockable metal bollard in the centre of the bridleway and it has a sharp-edged square top which sliced right through a horse's leg just above the knee. He lost a lot of blood, and needed 10 stitches. Hopefully it will not be a long-term injury, as he is a registered showjumper. It caused a lot of distress and obviously unnecessary cost.

Our concern is if this had been the rider's leg, or a child on a bicycle, the outcome could have been much worse.

I wondered if you can get this bollard removed (assuming it does not have permission) to avoid any walkers, cyclists, horses or riders getting injured in future and get some sort of apology from whoever put it there!

We also have a number of vet's bills and wondered if there is any chance of getting some sort of contribution towards these?

There is another, older bollard at the east entrance to the bridleway at the old golf course clubhouse, but this is rounded and a sensible height so hasn't caused any problems to date.

We have photos of the bollard and the horse's injury if these would be of assistance, and look forward to hearing from you.

This bridleway already has a solid barrier at the west end and another lockable bollard at the east end. I'm not sure whether these have also been erected without permission. Both of the access lanes to the bridleway are overlooked by occupied residential and community buildings, and the previously vacant golf course land is now grazed and rented by various livestock owners, so regularly attended.

I would suggest the barriers at each end of the bridleway should be reviewed for their suitability for horse riders and cyclists, and the central bollard, which injured our horse, should be removed as soon as possible.

I am pleased to attach a letter of 26 June 2014 to School Lane Holdings, who own the land and bollard in question, which sets out our final request for compensation for the injury to our horse, before proceeding with a Court Claim.