The start of the new year is a difficult time for a majority of businesses with households curbing spending after Christmas. But for some industries it is harder than others. Riding Schools for example, trying to battle on out of their busy seasons at the time of year where their running costs are at their highest.
Pammy Hutton, international dressage rider and trainer, and owner of Talland School of Equitation in Gloucestershire, recently spoke out over her concerns for the future of riding schools.
With a record number of riding schools, livery yards and equestrian centres closing due to increased running and employment costs, devaluation of the industry and red tape, Pammy’s concerns included difficulties in affordable employment, lack of government support and increasing prices.
While there’s breath in my body, I will fight to keep our riding school, The Talland School of Equitation, open. But I’m hating the Government that told me they’re making it better for working people – I now have to work even harder to afford to employ staff.
“Of course, the whole horse sector is feeling the financial pain of soaring overheads. But compared with livery and competition yards, riding schools face the heaviest insurance burden alongside the requirement – and cost – to be publicly licensed.”
“A loss of riding centres also means the potential loss of livery yards and competition venues run from the same sites. As we’ve discussed many times on our own platforms, there needs to be a change, and business owners need to be working their prices to their costs, not what customers feel they should be paying for livery or riding lessons!”
Read Pammy’s full article in Horse & Hound here
