AFTER reading "Horse nappy idea scrapped" (Evening Press, November 8) I couldn't believe my eyes. The York council licensing and regulation committee has backed down on carriage operators' horses wearing dung-catchers without any cost to the operators.

As for the three-month trial, one in four had used "a nappy" with great success and without harm or discomfort to the horse.

The cost of collecting dung has fallen, probably because of the one horse wearing the dung-bag and the fact that all the horses haven't been working plus bad weather.

Let us see what the outcome is next summer, when the warm weather is with us once again.

P J Markwick,

Forge Close,

Jockey Lane, York.

Updated: 09:47 Friday, November 21, 2003