The strong winds and heavy rain that have affected the UK through the second week of January 2007 have caused chaos in horse riding establishments across the country.

Both private horse stables and commercial livery yards have been devastated by winds of up to 90mph in some areas. Scotland and North East England have been particularly badly affected, although most of the British Isles have seen some stormy weather over the last week.

One equestrian rushed to rescue 12 horses from stables in Fife after the buildings suffered serious structural damage.

Sandra Low-Mitchell, who owns a stud farm, commented on the surprisingly good behaviour of the young horses she retrieved from the wind-ravaged stable block.

The horse riding enthusiast said: "Once they were out of the stables, it was as if they knew they had to stay calm. They literally followed me around until I found somewhere to put them."

There have been no reports of any horses being injured as a result of the bad weather, although the danger has not yet passed as further storms are predicted to hit the UK over the weekend.