Blue looking likely to earn her spurs as she logs on to help with forest clearance

The 11-year-old heavy horse and her owner Chris Wadsworth, from Guisborough, have been recruited by the Forestry Commission to undertake horse logging in the 360 hectare Guisborough Forest and Walkway for the first time in nearly 20 years.

The project will see about 200 tonnes of sycamore removed to open up part of the scenic North York Moors woodland to allow other native tree species like oak to grow and improve recreational access to the forest’s popular keep-fit trim trail.

Chris Wadsworth, who is teaching Blue the ropes, said: “She has a very nice temperament and to say this is the first job she has done as a logger she is doing remarkably well. It takes some time to train a horse, but I’ve got high hopes Blue will cut the mustard as a first-class logger.”

Blue’s previous career has been variously spent hauling scrap carts, pulling a traditional gipsy caravan and in a riding school.

The logging is proving a big attraction for visitors, but it has a serous purpose, explained the Forestry Commission’s Ian Blair.

He said: “Access to this part of the forest is quite difficult and we have a power line running over the forest canopy all of which points to the use of a horse rather than machine. Timber harvested will be used for firewood to help meet the soaring local demand for green energy.”