REGARDING your story about the young woman who rode a horse through a supermarket (Echo, Feb 5) for a dare.

I run a counselling business working with children and young people in schools in North Yorkshire, County Durham, Sunderland and Redcar and Cleveland.

There is an increased demand for support for young people who are struggling with low selfesteem and are giving in to peer pressure. This includes selfharming, depression, eating disorders, uncertain futures, suicidal thoughts or attempts, anxiety and unstable family lives.

This NekNomination stunt that is growing rapidly on Facebook is a major concern for vulnerable young people and adults.

Some may see it as a harmless prank, to others it is cyberbullying, and to others it can be a life-or-death situation.

I know of one young person who set his hair on fire before downing his drink. Fortunately, he suffered no lasting damage, but it was a prank that could have had serious consequences.

Nominating a friend to do a prank may seem like fun, but there is a very fine line that can be easily crossed. How would you feel if it went seriously wrong?

Could you cope with the pressure of that? And what about the emotional damage of those feeling forced into these pranks because of the pressure of peers?

To those who think people can make their own choices and decisions when invited to a NekNomination, think again.

There are children as young as seven who regularly use Facebook, never mind all those isolated and vulnerable who can become easy targets.

Robert Fothergill, Footprints counselling and support.

“ONLY in Bishop,” was the cry when I read the story about the woman going shopping on horseback, but she wasn’t even riding a proper Bishop horse – or “hoss” as they are known around these parts.

I was expecting to see a big lumpy beast with hairy feet but we got a show jumper instead.

Paul Dobson, Bishop Auckland.

I WAS amazed to read that the most important thing to take place in our area was a stunt carried out by an irresponsible young woman and her horse.

Concerns have been expressed by many following the deaths of young people in Ireland as a result of excessive drinking.

The only positive thing to come out of the incident in St Helen Auckland is that a soft drink was consumed and that it appears to have been paid for.

I would have preferred to hear about the case in a subsequent court report rather than in a headline story which served only to enhance the young lady’s Facebook status. She did not appear to have much concern for the welfare of her horse.

An irresponsible car driver might lose the use of his car for a while. Will Inky Ralph be similarly deprived of the pleasure of using Harvey, who possibly now has his own Facebook page?

Brian Humphrey, Darlington.