Although times are undoubtedly very tough, there could be opportunities for the industry as people’s preferences and priorities change owing to the coronavirus. H&H speaks to riding schools, riders and industry experts to find out their views
THERE could be an opportunity for the equestrian industry in a post-Covid world, it is thought, as people’s lives and preferences are changing.
H&H has spoken to riding schools that enjoyed huge surges in interest after the initial lockdown, including Lavant House Stables in Chichester, and Wellington Riding in Hampshire.
{"content":"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"}
You might also be interested in…
With the coronavirus pandemic forcing most people to work from home, abiding by lockdown rules, and a proportion of those
Credit: Nick Gill Photography
The equestrian industry has shown resilience in the face of previous recessions. Eleanor Jones analyses where the crunch points will
Credit: EQUUIS PHOTOGRAPHY
The Covid-19 pandemic is affecting everyone’s lives, and those in the equestrian world are no exception. While the full economic
The owner of a building company took an 18hh Shire out, and described his day's hunting as an 'amazing experience'
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2025 with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
H&H news editor
Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
