More than 500 protesters, at least 300 of them riding horses, rode through the so-called Horse Capital of Australia yesterday over plans for a coal mine.
The protesters took to the streets of Scone, in New South Wales, to spell out their concerns over Bickham Coal Company's mining plans for the district.
The Upper Hunter Valley is a major racehorse breeding area in Australia, providing the core of Australia's annual thoroughbred production.
Thoroughbred studs were strongly represented in the protest. The Australian Stock Horse Society was also represented, as were most equine disciplines.
Scone-based Olympic equestrian Nikki Richardson also took part in the protest.
The protesters oppose a mine Bickham wants to build near the Pages River, a tributary of the Hunter River.
The mining company hopes to extract 36 million tonnes during the mine's estimated 25-year life. The company plans two open-cast pits.
Local fear the effects the mining may have on groundwater quality.
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