Equestrian store saved from developers
EAST Sussex horse owners are delighted that a local equestrian store has been saved from potential closure. The staff at Windmill Feeds & Saddlery’s Cross in Hand branch, near Heathfield, have kept their jobs too - now the store is here to stay. The shop was threatened with closure late last year due to nearby house development. However, business owner Martin Hook has now secured ownership of the site. “It’s great news on several fronts,” he said. “The entrance to the property can now be improved
More people are riding
so that the visibility is better as you enter and exit the site. “It has secured employment in the local area for the staff, and it has staved off the possibility of customers having to travel further to buy their pet food, animal feed or saddlery items.” Fiona Rafferty, editor of Localrider magazine, has been covering the story. “I’m pretty impressed as all around [the store] is a large housing estate now, so it’s a big commitment [by Mr Hook], but it’s also a well-supported store.”
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cent have lapsed riders, while 73 per cent have never ridden. Barriers to returning to the saddle: The survey shows that there are five million lapsed rider households in Britain, but 650,000 of them are interested in riding again. The two key growing barriers to this are access and proximity to horses. “Although this is just the first stage of the National Equestrian Survey – we still have the detailed reports on the equestrian economy, spending and population to come – the future of equestrian sport looks encouraging,” said Claire Williams. “The decline in rider numbers has been halted and the number of people riding on a regular basis has grown to give a far more positive outlook compared with five years ago. We are really looking forward to seeing the other parts of the survey, which are currently at fieldwork stage, with publication due in April/ May. BETA members will each receive a free overview document; orders are now being taken for copies of the 2019 BETA National Equestrian Survey. For costs and to place an order, contact Philippa Macintosh, telephone 01937 587062 or email philippa@beta-uk.org
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AN increase in horse riding over the past five years has been revealed. The first stage of BETA’s National Equestrian Survey was presented by the trade association’s executive director Claire Williams at last month’s National Equine Forum. The survey takes place every five years, with initial findings from the latest one reporting: Number of horse riders: In 2014, there were 2.7 million riders following a steady decline in horse riding over the previous ten years. Today, rider numbers are at 3 million, showing an indication of recovery, with not only an upturn in the number of people who have ridden in the past 12 months, but also an increase in those regularly riding at least once a month. There are now 1.8 million regular riders – back to levels seen between 2005 and 2010 – compared with 1.3 million in 2014. The greatest rise has been among 25- to 44-year-olds, an age group that showed a dramatic fall in riding during the previous five years. Number of horse owners: In 2014, there was evidence of a steady decline in the number of Britain’s horse-owning households, from 451,000 four years earlier to 446,000. The downward trend has continued, with the figure now standing at 374,000. Scale of lapsed riders: Seven per cent of households in Britain have members who have ridden in the past 12 months. A further 20 per
