The world we’re working in
Each year, millions of people take part in the equestrian world - from children having their first riding lesson, to grooms and yard staff working day-to-day with horses, through to elite athletes competing on the world stage. Alongside this sits a significant workforce and a wide network of organisations, venues and businesses that make the industry what it is.
The facts
- Around 3.2 million people ride occasionally in the UK, including approximately 1.8–2 million regular riders¹
- In Ireland, an estimated 300,000+ people are involved in horse riding and equestrian activity²
- The sector supports approximately 230,000 jobs across the UK³, with significant employment also generated across Ireland’s rural and sporting economy⁴
- It contributes around £5 billion annually to the UK economy³, alongside a multi-billion euro contribution in Ireland⁴
- There are approximately 850,000–1 million horses in the UK¹, and around 400,000 horses in Ireland⁴
What the sector looks like
The equestrian world is not governed by a single structure. Instead, it is made up of a wide range of organisations, each with different roles, responsibilities and levels of oversight.
Across the UK, national governing bodies sit under the umbrella of the British Equestrian Federation, including organisations such as British Showjumping, British Dressage and British Eventing. Alongside these sit membership organisations such as The British Horse Society and Pony Club, which play a significant role in participation, training and grassroots development.
In Ireland, the sector is led by Horse Sport Ireland, alongside a similarly diverse mix of organisations, disciplines and independent operators.
Racing operates through a separate structure, led by organisations such as the British Horseracing Authority and Horse Racing Ireland, with its own regulatory, training and employment systems.
Alongside formal structures, a significant proportion of the sector sits outside of affiliated systems - including independent yards, private training environments, freelance professionals and self-employed roles.
What this means in reality
This structure brings real strengths - deep expertise, strong communities and lots of opportunities across the sector. But it can also make things more complicated.
There isn’t one single organisation responsible for oversight. Standards and ways of working can vary, and how someone raises a concern often depends on where they are or who they’re working with. This means people’s experiences can be very different - from well-run, structured environments to more informal settings. Many people also move between roles, yards and locations, which can make it harder to maintain consistency.
There’s no single shared source of data either, so it’s difficult to see the full picture of what’s happening across the sector. On top of that, the equestrian world is international. People, horses and competition regularly move across borders, adding another layer of complexity to how everything operates day to day.
Why this matters
All of this creates a sector that is large, complex and deeply connected - but without consistent ways to make sure everyone is properly protected and supported. That means safeguarding can’t rely on one system or one organisation alone.
Without clear standards and accessible support, concerns can be missed, not raised or not acted on. EQUISS is here to help change that.
By supporting people, strengthening standards and working across the sector to help create safer, more accountable environments for everyone involved.
Footnotes
A¹ Data from British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) National Equestrian Survey (2019), including participation levels, regular rider estimates and horse population
² Estimates from Horse Sport Ireland and wider industry participation data in Ireland
³ Estimates from British Horse Council, drawing on industry-wide economic modelling and workforce data
⁴ Data from Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Horse Sport Ireland
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