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Date:
8 April 2005
Pre-Election
‘Manifesto to Government’ issued by The British Horse Society
A Manifesto
to Government has been released by The British Horse Society ahead of the
General Election.
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The
document makes a number of recommendations to the next Government.
The
BHS Manifesto states: “The
BHS has worked successfully with past governments to address many
concerns raised within the horse industry...
We therefore urge the new Government to address the following
areas where we believe the horse industry is being held back, or where
safety needs to be enhanced.”
The
recommendations in the Manifesto are: |
*
to require riding instructors and those caring for the paying public to
hold a recognised qualification.
*
to ensure that funding already available for the advancement of
education, health and social inclusion is available for providing horse riding
and caring activities for socially excluded members of society
*
to require those instructing in equestrian sports to be covered by adequate
insurance.
*
to achieve, by 2015, a joined-up network of bridleways/multi-user routes
across England and Wales so that walkers, equestrians and cyclists can enjoy
open air recreation with minimal contact with traffic.
*
to ensure that the safety of equestrians is considered in all road management
and development schemes that could affect them.
*
to introduce legislation,
similar to that in many US States, which explicitly recognises that horse riding
is inherently risky and that participants may be injured when they take part,
thereby reducing the insurance burden on the industry.
*
to amend the law to restore the position where horse owners or riders are not
liable for injury or damage caused by their animals unless negligence can be
proved against them.
*
to review the current situation
on carcass disposal to ensure that high costs are not allowed to compromise
equine welfare.
*
to exempt from VAT those products and services which are provided to improve
safety for equestrians.
*
to ensure that all riding
establishments are able to compete on equal terms, with no sub-sector enjoying
rating advantages not available to the rest.
*
to recognise the value of volunteers in equestrian (and other) sports,
(b) to take action to reduce the risk to volunteers from claims when accidents
occur, and (c) provide
a financial incentive to encourage volunteers to obtain relevant training and
qualifications to equip them as officials.
The
BHS’s Chairman Patrick Print said: “The
economic, social and environmental contribution made by the horse industry is
now widely accepted. Whilst much of
the responsibility for the further development of the horse industry lies with
the equestrian community itself, there are areas where the new government can
and should help.”
For further
information, please contact: Oliver Wilson, Director of Communications, The
British Horse Society, 01926 707738 / 707743 or o.wilson@bhs.org.uk
/ communications@bhs.org.uk
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