BHS Chief Executive Graham Cory today welcomed publication for consultation of the draft Strategy for the Horse Industry in England and Wales.

“The Strategy holds the prospect of real growth for the industry, enabling it to increase its economic value, and enhance its contribution to the social, educational, health and sporting life of the nation.”

The British Horse Society has been a major contributor to the Strategy as a whole, and particularly to the chapter on increasing off-road riding opportunities for riders.

But Cory made the point that the draft does not represent the last word on any subject. “It reflects the collected views of many people and, not surprisingly, these do not always reflect a consensus. So it is essential that those who wish to see the industry prosper should take time to read the consultation draft and feed in their own views.”

Cory also said that the Society was already taking forward some of the recommendations, especially those relating to Access issues, where he recognised that the Society, working co-operatively with partners, could and should achieve even more than it had been able to do in the past.

He noted that the Strategy was the result of a combined effort. “The fact that the draft Strategy has been produced at all is a testament to what the industry, working in concert, can achieve. And Defra’s contribution to the process has been crucial to its development.”