AS someone who has The Northern Echo delivered every day I thought it was time to move on from politics, at least what’s going on at the moment.

What a pleasure it was, then, to see the picture – above – with your story, headlined “Time for a break” (Echo, May 15), about the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment’s Musical Ride team being invited to perform in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.

The picture of a young soldier with his horse resting on his legs, as he talked to one of the Abu Dhabi show organisers, was a delight. Even the horse appears to be smiling – like me.

Mrs GM Squirrell, Gilling West, Richmond, North Yorkshire.