Riding schools hope for brighter future

By Georgina Pattinson
BBC News

Tory MP Stephen Crabb has introduced the private member's bill

The plight of animal owners and riding schools is to be put under the spotlight by a proposed change in the law.

Currently, a 2003 Lords interpretation of the 1971 Animals Act means that anyone keeping animals - including horses and cattle - is liable for accidents involving those creatures.

They would be liable even when the animal was displaying normal behaviour and the owner had taken all possible steps to ensure such accidents did not happen.

It has resulted in huge rises in insurance costs, threatening the survival of riding schools, because those owners face compensation claims for unforeseen mishaps.

Now, a Private Member's Bill is due to come before Parliament for its second reading, introduced by Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb.

It is hoped the Bill, further amending the Animals Act, will mean the cost of insurance for owners of certain animals, among them horses, is slashed.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which has campaigned for the change, gives examples of one livery stable and riding centre in Pembrokeshire, which has seen its yearly insurance premium rise from £2,000 to £6,000 a year.

Another in Hertfordshire has seen an increase from £5,000 a year to £12,000.

Sue Colley, who runs the Breaston Equestrian Centre in Derbyshire, has seen a jump in her insurance premium of 172% in the years between 2002 and 2008 - and that was after cutting back. If she had not made some changes to the way she works, her insurance premium would have risen a whopping 261%.

"Having spoken to the insurance people, they have had to put premiums up because they are aware they might have to pay out," she explains.

Equine industry

It is a similar story elsewhere. John Collier, who runs Blackdyke Farm in Cumbria, gives lessons in two indoor schools. He has 47 horses - but the riding school no longer rides out or operates its cross-country course. His insurance premiums have risen from £8,000 to £12,000.

He is keen to point out that his business is far from "elitist" - he charges £14 for a child's lessons and on a typical weekday he might see up to 60 kids at his school.

If you're operating on a narrow margin, that can be the end of you Graham Cory MP's Commons bill fails

In fact, riding is a popular pastime. A British Equestrian Trade Association survey in 2005-6 indicated that 4.3m people are riders.

The survey also estimated £732m was spent on lessons and that there were 1.35m horses in the UK.

And Defra figures from 2005 show that the horse industry in England and Wales had a gross output of £3.4bn, employing 250,000 people.

"Riding schools operate on pretty narrow margins," says Graham Cory, chief executive of the British Horse Society. "They have to buy horses, tack, food, vets bills and any bill a business costs for.

"But the income from riding lessons is not proportionally huge.

"Riding schools can be disproportionately adversely affected by an increase in costs - and they have seen an exponential rise in insurance over the past four years.

"We know some where the cost has gone up five fold. If you're operating on a narrow margin, that can be the end of you."

RIDING IN THE UK 4.3m people are riders 35m paid-for riding lessons take place every year 75% of regular riders are female 2,500 registered farriers in the UK

He says that while it has become a cliche to say there is a compensation culture in the UK, he believes a change in the law would redress the balance in favour of responsible animal owners, who have taken every reasonable step to prevent harm and damage.

Although it is impossible to say how many businesses may have been directly affected by the rise in insurance costs, Mr Cory says that of 1,000 BHS affiliated establishments, the number one anxiety in the past four years has been the soaring cost of insurance premiums.

The Private Member's Bills do not always make uninterrupted progress through the Commons, but Stephen Crabb says he is optimistic - and has strong support from all sides of the house.

So much so, he says, that he has been given the help of Defra officials - unusual for an opposition MP - to work on the proposal.

Supporters are keeping their fingers crossed. Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, the CLA's president, says riding is a great sport. "We obviously want people to enjoy the countryside and enjoy it responsibly.

"Part of it is taking personal responsibility. If you ride a horse on the road, the horse may be fine, but it could be frightened - so don't go down the middle of the road."

A change in the law would not free owners from a duty of care - or blame if they are genuinely at fault - but will free them from the unfair burden of strict liability.

"Respect and understanding are key - not blaming the owner of animals who have done everything possible to ensure it's in a safe environment."