Equestrianism in crisis

Badminton has already been postponed

The current foot and mouth outbreak in Britain has not only been a disaster for farmers. As BBC Sport's Paul Stainton explains, the eventing industry has also been devastated.

Equestrianism is deep in crisis.

The outbreak of foot and mouth disease has caused the industry to impose a voluntary ban on all their activities. But now weeks into the epidemic, and with no end in sight, it's suffering badly.

Andrew Finding, the chief executive of the British Eventing Federation claims that the industry as a whole is losing £20m per week.

Lost year

The sport has been badly affected, with the domestic horse trials season due to begin on 3 March, but not a single event has taken place.

Just last week, the UK's biggest and most prestigious event, the May Badminton Horse Trials, was cancelled because of the crisis.

It is unlikely that eventing will be back on the sporting calendar before the end of June, and if the epidemic continues, 2001 could be a "lost" year.

Point-to-point racing has already been closed down until 2002, so the same fate could await eventing.

The world of showjumping has also been badly hit, with events cancelled the length and breadth of Europe even though most are held in enclosed arenas.

British Olympic rider Michael Whittaker has four horses stranded in Germany, and is now commuting there to feed and train them.

Whittaker has horses stranded in Germany

He's also having to pay for the upkeep of 30 horses in his yard in Nottinghamshire, despite having no income from events.

It's a situation that cannot continue indefinitely.

But it's not just the professional side of the industry that is in crisis.

The UK has 800,000 horses and ponies that in most cases can't be ridden or competed, but they still have to be fed and looked after.

Riding schools and trekking centres are closed and in danger of going out of business, whilst the businesses that rely on horses are also in danger of disappearing.

Help needed

Saddlers, blacksmiths, vets and other related trades all have very little work, and that has a knock-on effect for village shops, pubs and the like.

Hugh Thomas, the director of the now-cancelled Badminton Hose Trials, is also concerned for the hundreds of businesses that traditionally trade at the Badminton event.

He thinks many, without some intervention, may not be there next year.

In short the British equine industry, worth £2.5bn pounds to the British economy, needs help fast.