Calls for riding schools to cater for more experienced riders *H&H VIP*

Is equestrianism in danger of losing the interest — and investment — of riders to other sports because of a lack of accessible facilities?

[subscriber-content] Leading figures in the equestrian industry believe so.

Ashley Parasram, co-founder of Riding Club London (RCL), which caters for people in and around London who may or may not have their own horse, believes that a lack of riding schools providing decent horses and quality instruction is causing fallout from the sport .

“There is simply not the means for more experienced riders, who don’t have their own horse, to enjoy riding at a reasonable level,” said the former treasurer and chairman of the Civil Service Riding Club and who was a key figure in the Olympic equestrian legacy’s consultation process.

“The feedback from members is that p eople are consistently drawing a blank when it comes to finding places to ride .”

Meeting needs of riders HOOF, the Olympic legacy project, has made a concerted effort to grow the sport, but its energies have primarily focused on encouraging new participants to sign up for lessons rather than meeting the needs of existing riders with a desire to improve.

Laura Graham was an active member of Edinburgh University’s equestrian club and was confidently jumping round 90cm courses by the time she graduated.

She was keen to continue riding when she left, but struggled to find a facility near to her base in Leeds that could provide high-quality tuition on good horses .

“The first place I went to I was put on a 14.2hh cob that had two speeds — slow and slower,” she told H&H . “I stuck with it for a few weeks, but I soon became bored. I tried a few other places, but none ticked the box. I sometimes ride a friend’s horse, but it’s not the same as having proper tuition .”

Calls for riding schools to cater for more experienced riders H&H VIP

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