British Under 25 Grand Prix rider Ellie McCarthy recently moved into her newly built yard, Forest Oak Equestrian, on the edge of the New Forest National Park in Sway, Lymington, U.K.
What should have been a quiet move into the property, getting the horses and her business settled, has also produced a not so pleasant side-effect: the yard has become an attraction for local tourists trespassing to come and "pet the horses".
"Almost every day now we have random people walking in or driving in being nosy or asking to have a look around or to pet the horses. This is not a zoo or an animal sanctuary, it is a professional training establishment with top quality horses," McCarthy took to Facebook.
"I do not understand people’s thought processes or why members of the public think it’s okay to touch one of my horses, little do they know they could have a substance on their hand which could make it illegal for me to compete. Despite having our gates shut this morning this, two members of the public today thought it would be okay to walk in from the neighbouring property that is an Airbnb to come and pet the horses. None of the horses were in but they decided to have a look in the stables anyway," she continued.
The yard is gated and McCathy also has 24-hour surveillance CCTV. "Trespassers WILL be prosecuted," she wrote.
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