Report - Section 1.3

1.3   A new and growing interest in the riding industry

There are signs that a new recognition is being given to the significance of this industry. Recent figures from the NFU suggest that the equine industry is believed to be the second biggest employer in the rural economy, with an annual estimated input to the economy of £2.5 billion.

In addition, the Countryside Agency has recently commissioned a literature search of recent publications to see what has been published on the extent and nature of nonmotorised travel (carriage-driving, cycling, horse-riding and walking)¹.

The research was commissioned to inform demonstration projects which the Countryside Agency plans to run to assist highway authorities in England with the implementation of a forthcoming duty to prepare rights of way improvement plans.

The key findings of this literature review confirm our own research findings. They include (words in italics are our added comments):

• Use of local rights of way as such has not been surveyed;
• Walking is consistently more popular than cycling, which in turn is more popular than horse-riding but there is less data on horse-riding than on cycling and walking;
• Surveys have all been conducted on a different basis, so comparison is well-nigh impossible;
• Studies of the economic impact of non-motorised use have largely been on long distance routes (and largely on walking and more recently cycling).

We can agree with the main recommendations arising from the literature review, which are:

• Encourage greater consistency in surveys;
• Seek information about use of local rights of way and the deterrents to that use;
• Improve knowledge about horse-riding; and, most importantly
• Investigate the economic value of local rights of way and also consider additional potential aspects of economic impact, such as the purchase of equipment and the value of the health benefits (physical and mental) arising from the exercise people get from their use.

At a local level, there is evidence that both attitudes and opportunities have moved forward positively:

• Equestrianism has been, or is being, written into the Rural Enterprise Strategy by Regional Development Agency (SEEDA) and other public sector stratgies;
• East Sussex County Council (ESCC) has applied for additional monies for access on Public Rights of Way;
• New equestrian posts have been created in the region: at the regional tourist board (SEETB), ESCC, and in Wealden District Council;
• Equestrian needs are being represented on a growing number of committees and partnerships;
• A growing number of farmers are waiting to move into farm-based tourism and/or equestrian businesses;
• TROT (Toll Routes) has received some funding to open 2 routes in East Sussex and a Le Trec Centre has been opened in Surrey.

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¹ The findings are presented in a recent report (December 2002), as yet unpublished, prepared by John Trevelyan in association with ADAS Information Services.