Report - Section 4.9

4.9   Promotion of equestrian tourism

The local area is marketed through "Sussex Country". There is at present no active promotion at a destination level of any horse-riding holiday product in East Sussex. In the 2002 visitor guide there is one brief mention of horse-riding in relation to the South Downs Way ("You don’t have to do it on foot if horse-riding or cycling is your preferred mode of transport")¹⁷. On request, a sheet is sent out which simply lists horse-riding facilities in the area. Two accommodation enterprises with stabling enterprises are listed.

Mechanisms already exist or are being set up to attract a wider tourism base in East Sussex. BTA, SEETB, Wealden District Council, Battle Tourism Company have websites and publications, some of which promote riding establishments. For example, equestrian symbols are included in Farmstay UK; in Wealden DC’s 'Country Visitor Guide' and in specialist publications.

A plethora of specific publications exist for walkers and cyclists, but the only route for horse-riders was published under the auspices of the High Weald Unit in 1989, showing the South East BHS AROW Route which has yet to function. The 11 themed itineraries that form the basis of all Sussex Country campaigns include walks and cycle routes but not riding. A search on the Ride-UK website produces four promoted horse-riding routes in East Sussex: the South Downs Way, Two Castles, The Cuckoo Trail and the Border Ride.

Elsewhere in the South East, promotion is patchy eg:

• BHS has produced 'West Sussex and Kent - on Horseback' containing route and accommodation details;
• South Downs Conservation Board Accommodation Guide includes 'Hoofprint' symbol for those who offer to take horses;
• TROT publish a handbook which includes accommodation providers (7 in Kent and 2 in East Sussex);
• Wealden District Council is working on a publication called 'Bed and Breakfast for Horses' which includes routes for equestrians and 4 entries for East Sussex.

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¹⁷ The South Downs Way National Trail User Survey was last carried out in 1996/97, using the standard methodology for all national trails. No adaptation was made to take account of the fact that this trail is available for use by riders and cyclists, so they were not identified separately as users. The only information collected about horse-riding was that when asked about how they travelled to the trail, 2% of short distances users travelled on horseback. Anecdotal evidence suggests that use of the South Downs Way for trail riding on horseback is limited. It is hoped to design the next User Survey to identify horse riders separately from other users.