Fear for riding schools’ future – Horse and Hound

Horse & Hound reported this week that:

Britain’s riding schools are “on the brink of disaster” and the future is a “frightening prospect” unless action is taken, leading figures have warned following fresh research, which has shown little change over the past 12 months. “Across Britain, riding schools are operating in an increasingly struggling sector, and an already precarious situation has been exacerbated first by the pandemic and now by the cost-of-living crisis,” said Mandana Mehran Pour, BEF’s head of participation. “Put simply, our equestrian establishments are on the brink of a disaster and… are under threat if we don’t find ways to address the issues.”

George Baber, ABRS+ director of member services and operations, told H&H that “not all, but a good number” of riding schools are “struggling to make ends meet”.  He then went on to highlight the challenges being faced – from workforce to horses to costs and to acquiring facilities to start new schools.  “We have to start from the basis that every riding school is its own business,” said George. “So when we’re looking at them as a group, we’re looking at the things that might be enablers, to help schools be more sustainable into the future.”

If you would like to read the article in full here.