RACEHORSE trainers fear for the safety of ramblers and their animals if the Government succeeds in changing rights of way legislation.

The Countryside and Rights of Way Bill, being considered in the House of Lords before the summer recess, could modernise the footpath network and open up vast areas of mountain, moor, heath, down and common land to the public.

Horse trainers are worried that increasing access to land where horses are trained could put both humans and animals at risk.

A spokeswoman for the Malton and Norton Racing Association said some landowners were trying to draw awareness to their worries.

"People are perhaps not aware of the extreme danger to themselves and to the animals. You have got these horses coming at great speed and if people are with children or are have got dogs and are crossing the land there is no telling what may happen and they just want to get this message across," she said.

But the Ramblers Association has poured cold water on the suggestion.

Nicky Warden, Freedom to Roam Campaign Co-ordinator, said: "Horses and walkers can both enjoy access land safely as they do already, for example, in Epsom.

"Where restrictions to the right of access are needed, the bill allows for decisions to be made locally."

Farmer and prize-winning conservationist Richard Howard-Vyse, of Langton, near Norton, backs an amendment to the legislation put forward by Lord Bernard Donoughue that walkers should not be given the right to roam on horse gallops.

The Malton training gallops are on Mr Howard-Vyse's land.

He said: "There are a number of places which will be exempt from the right to roam which includes racecourses but doesn't include land which is used for training racehorses.

"What worries me is that unless there's some exemption for that I can see an accident in the making.

"I can imagine a woman with a child and a terrier loose and a lad on top of a flighty young racehorse with the terrier snapping at his heels.

"You'd have a woman not knowing whether to save the dog or her child and the stable lad going about his business thrown off and the horse hurt too.

"Lord Donoughue has an amendment which includes horse gallops in the land that's exempt and I have strong support from trainers all over the country."

reporters@ycp.malton.fsnet.co.uk