A Highland riding centre has lost its licence for long-distance trail riding amid concerns about animal welfare.
Highlands Unbridled, which operates out of the Northwilds centre near Tain, was hit by an outbreak of the highly infectious equine disease Strangles in August.
Highland Council’s licensing committee also heard concerns about bio-security and staff training at the facility.
But owner Jan O’Neill said she was “relieved” after the meeting after councillors granted a three month provisional licence to carry out local trekking and lessons only out of their main centre.
She said: “I’m quite hopeful about getting back to the long distance riding eventually.
“This year has been an extremely difficult one for us and it followed on from 2015 when we had to relocate (from Brora) which was again an awful year.
“So I think we need to be very grateful we have got the licence and it will give us the chance to sit back, regroup, get things sorted out properly in Tain and then see where it leads from there.”
She said the immediate future would be “very difficult” without the long distance aspect of their business but she said she was confident they would be in a position to survive the loss.
The committee’s decision was taken based on a report provided by vet Charlotte Fraser after an inspection last month.
She said she was concerned about the standards of management at the centre.
The Scottish SPCA also raised specific concerns about the planning and back-up support for the long distance riding.
A total of 16 objections to the granting of a licence were also received from members of the public and other riding organisations, several of whom spoke at yesterday’s committee meeting.
Among them was Ruaridh Ormiston of Newtonmore Riding Centre, which has been closed since they suffered an outbreak of Strangles shortly after the cases at Highlands Unbridled were discovered.
He said: “I’m passionate about our industry and the damage that this company has done to our industry, not only this year but in other years, is not doing any of us any good.”
Councillor Maxine Smith said she considered moving for the licence to be removed entirely saying she was “really concerned about the welfare of the horses”.
Committee chairman Ian Cockburn said he supported the idea of granting a provisional licence.
He said: “It’s a good idea that will give Mrs O’Neill the opportunity to focus on the scope of what she has left.”
