In the heart of Britain's horse racing capital, a resident has found themselves at the centre of an unusual dispute involving the very sounds that define the region's character.
The Complaint That Shocked Newmarket
Mandy Young, a horse owner living approximately 10 miles from Newmarket's famous racecourse, received an unexpected notice from West Suffolk Council regarding noise complaints about her animals. The formal letter specifically referenced 'constant neighing' coming from her property.
Young expressed astonishment at the complaint, describing it as 'ridiculous' given the area's deep equestrian connections. 'The area is super horsey. It's the main home of horse racing', she remarked, highlighting that Newmarket features dedicated horse roads and crossings.
Understanding the Equine Context
Young maintains fifteen horses at her home and noted that five out of seven neighbouring properties also keep horses, with approximately twenty-five horses within a half-mile radius. She believes the complaint, dated from late last month, likely coincided with a period when she was weaning foals.
According to World Horse Welfare, the international charity, weaning represents a stressful process for horses that can cause increased vocalisation as they call out to each other. Young acknowledged some increased noise during this period but strongly disputed the characterisation of it being 'constant'.
'They did call a bit, but it definitely wasn't constant', she explained. 'They'll call backwards and forwards to each other for a few minutes and then they stop'.
Council's Position and Next Steps
West Suffolk Council confirmed it has a legal duty to act when receiving complaints. A council spokesperson clarified that the letter simply made Young aware of the complaint at an early stage and hadn't substantiated the allegations.
The spokesperson emphasised: 'If you do not consider you are making any unreasonable noise you need take no further action'. Should the complainant pursue the matter further, the council would require additional details about when and how the noise causes disturbance before launching any formal investigation or evidence gathering.
Young speculated that using a different field for weaning might have exposed her horses to neighbours unaccustomed to equine sounds. She also noted that compared to other farm animals, horses generally rank among the quieter residents of the countryside.
Drawing a parallel that many rural residents might recognise, she observed: 'Moving to Newmarket and then complaining about horse noise is like moving next to a railway track and then complaining about the train'.
