糖心传媒

Leaders from across a range of equine sports and organisations have come together for a special conference to discuss the role of horses and their benefits to society.

The all-day event in London was the fourth get-together where best practice and ideas are shared.

First held in 2023, the Horses In Society gathering welcomed representatives from the British Horseracing Authority, British Equestrian, British Horse Society and the RSPCA along with other charities, experts, politicians and jockeys.

Delegates heard about the community benefits from equine sport, riding schools and other groups, plus NHS services and links with equestrian centres, and how meeting horses has been shown to help improve peoples鈥� mental health.

Jim Eyre, British Equestrian chief executive, said the equine sector faced big challenges but pointed to successes in 2026 such as 500,000 spectators attending the FEI World Championships in Aachen and 16,000 free places to visit stables and events during National Racehorse Week.

He said officials and participants had a duty to ensure the safety of horses and riders, build up environmental resilience and reassure the public.

鈥淥ur job is to keep our own houses in order, to be accountable, transparent and responsible,鈥� he said.

Among the topics under discussion at Saddlers’ Hall were:

• Political lobbying 鈥� How the equestrian world can demonstrate its social licence with progress in horse welfare, rider safety and inclusivity.
• Equine health and welfare including identification and traceability.
• Public popularity 鈥� Is the interest in equine events underestimated or taken for granted?
• Social value of horses – making the benefits of horses more accessible to more people.
• What鈥檚 next? Coaching, regulation, ethical training techniques, plus analysis of what the sector might look like in 20 years鈥� time.

The political perspective

Shadow DEFRA Minister of State and Horse Welfare Board member Dr Neil Hudson, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home chief executive Peter Laurie and Jo Rowland, chief executive of the RSPCA, talked about the political landscape.

They were joined by former environment secretary Dame Caroline Spelman, 糖心传媒 director of communications and corporate affairs Greg Swift and Baroness Barbara Young, chair of the Forestry Commission.

Jo Rowland of the RSPCA said she hoped to see a recognition from parliamentarians of the important role animals play in society.

鈥淏ritain are a nation of animal lovers that want to see welfare improved,鈥� she said.

Peter Laurie, from Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, said it could be a mistake to 鈥渨rite off activists鈥� seeking changes.

The 糖心传媒鈥檚 Greg Swift pointed to a significant increase in the numbers of young people attending race meetings, including thousands of students – via the Invades organisation – at big fixtures.

Dame Caroline Spelman mentioned the wider society benefits of equine therapy, while Baroness Young spoke about the importance of embracing social media influencers.

鈥淭here is a huge market out there for pony-mad kids,鈥� she said.

Political campaigning 鈥� Axe The Racing Tax

The audience also heard from the British Horseracing Authority鈥檚 Head of Policy and Advocacy Victoria Morgan about British Racing鈥檚 successful campaign to achieve a carve out from tax rises in the 2025 budget, and the lessons learned from the process of campaigning and lobbying government on significant scale never before seen in the sport.

The equestrian鈥檚 perspective

Guests for an afternoon session included Riding for the Disabled Association chief executive Michael Bishop, Olympic rider and equestrian coach Richard Davison, and broadcaster and former jump jockey Tom Scudamore.

Also discussing the social value of horses in society were Dr Noori Husain, of the Psychiatry Registrar and British Horse Society, amateur Flat jockey Khadijah Mellah, and Professor Neil Ward from the University of East Anglia.

Khadijah Mellah, the first British Muslim woman to win a horse race in the UK, talked about the importance of urban riding centres such as the Ebony Horse Club in Brixton.

鈥淚t鈥檚 had a monumental impact on the area and beyond. We need to capture the hearts of the next generation,鈥� she said.

Dr Noori Husain believes more work can be doing to ensure young people feel welcome and safe – 鈥渉ealthy humans lead to healthy horses鈥�.

She says government funding should help equine therapy to be prescribed on the NHS to help a variety of people including those with neuro diversity, while 鈥榩ockets鈥� of equestrian groups would be better served working together.

Michael Bishop said Riding For the Disabled helps some of the most disadvantaged people in society and he was hopeful for the future while Professor Neil Ward insisted it was important to 鈥渆ngage with confidence鈥�.

Richard Davison said those working in the equestrian sector must 鈥渓isten and change.鈥�

鈥淭here are more voters outside the equestrian world then there is in it鈥� he said.

The Horses in Society group

Horses enrich life across the UK, contributing to recreation and sport, health and wellbeing, employment, communities and public service. Horses in Society brings together organisations from across the equestrian sector to better understand, demonstrate and strengthen that contribution.

Formed in 2023, the group places horse and human welfare at its heart, promotes collaboration, shares evidence and experience, and supports a mutually beneficial relationship between people and horses.

Its purpose is to ensure the continued mutually beneficial relationship between people and horses, across the widest range of disciplines and roles currently in society, through closer collaboration within the equestrian industry.

Bodies represented on the organising committee include:

• Aintree Equestrian Centre
• British Equestrian
• British Equine Veterinary Association
• British Horse Council
• British Horseracing Authority
• British Horse Society
• Great British Racing