A HORSE rider has been banned for life from a stables -- just days after winning a dressage competition.

Emma Dickinson, 22, has been riding since she was two and has had her 15-year-old pure-bred Arab Crystal for the past nine years.

But after winning a dressage class at Osbaldeston Riding Centre Emma received a letter banning her for life for a "total disregard for manners."

The centre today refused to comment on the case, which involves Emma and a friend being banned from the stables, shows and the shop.

But the letter warned that police would be called if they were seen on the premises.

Emma, who has consulted a solicitor, stables her horse at the centre until August when she got use of her friend's horse and decided to stable them both near her home at St Mary's Gardens, Mellor, rather than pay two livery fees.

Emma, a leisure management diploma student at Blackburn College, said: "I entered a dressage competition at Osbaldeston on January 30 and won the class, came second in the senior section and qualified for the second round.

"Then a couple of days later I got a letter through from Osbaldeston saying I had been banned from all competitions run by them and other agencies held there." The letter said Emma and her friend have been banned "due to the total disregard for manners" that they have shown to the owners.

But Emma's mum Christine, who was with daughter at the competition, said: "She did nothing to warrant this. As soon as she finished the competition she went home. There was no confrontation and nothing untoward happened."

Emma said she contacted the British Horse Society who told her to speak to a solicitor and so she took the matter to Gareth Knight of Parker and Pickles, in Blackburn. Mr Knight said he had written to the riding centre questioning the ban but had yet to receive a reply. He is now sending a further letter and if he has still received no reply will be phoning the centre.

Owner of Osbaldeston Hall Farm Riding Centre Norman Bargh said: "I have no comment whatsoever."

A spokesman for the British Horse Society said: "Osbaldeston has always had an excellent report from our inspectors and is one of the best livery units we have.

"I have not experienced anything like this before and having spoken with the owner there appear to be some irregularities."