The completely hypothetical and extremely unlikely riding ban

[Pedantic]

Got to love how the assumption seems to be that nobody would rise up, rebel against it, and burn everything down in the process, leading to a glorious new era, etc.

Nobody will, the French tend to be a bit more revolutionary, or maybe some of the Leeds population, depending, typical Brits tend to roll over and take it where the sun doesn't shine, you only have to look around and at the news to see which new era is coming in...

 

[SEL]

I'd grow very tall hedges around my fields and carry on riding.

Or once the current 3 have gone flog the fields to yet another housing developer.

 

[SantaVera]

I'd keep mine I've recently bought another,no intention of riding it, they are pasture ornaments to love and fuss.

 

[Snow Falcon]

Show of strength against controversial New Forest proposals

MORE than 750 protesters staged a demonstration in the New Forest yesterday to show their anger at proposals they claim would destroy their way of…

www.dailyecho.co.uk

BBC News Online | Forest dwellers fight draft plans

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I think there might be some action taken if things escalated into a riding ban. I remember Wilverley Plain with regards to the above.

 

[dominobrown]

Realsitlcally there would be a mass cull of horses. A lot of horses are not pets. Most breeds would die out. There would be a few people who would keep them but they would over the next 10/20 years become rare. A lot would be exported to other countries. I think the effects would be bigger than envisaged and there would be a small effect on the economy initially. I personally think it would be negative for the welfare of a lot horses. Farriers/ vets etc would go out of business (equine vets, not all vets). There would be a lot of protest, I certainly would, them maybe emigrate. I think it would signify a slippery slope and mass changes of the British countryside, and farming would follow soon after. It would go a bit 1984.
Obviously this is just my personal imagination and might be massively exaggerated.. or not. Its all guess work I suppose...

 

[FieldOrnaments]

If riding was banned would driving also be?

 

[suestowford]

It would be a sad day for those involved with RDA work.
Perhaps we'd all move on to cows instead...

 

[blitznbobs]

Horse neglect would sucky rocket, many horses would be culled and people won’t try and rescue the,m, mental health would deteriorate for literally 1000s of people and so many people would be out of work… it doesn’t really bare thinking about

 

[Fizzandfun]

What next, after a riding ban? Complete ban of ownership at all? I mean, it seems certain parties are saying that all forms of horsemanship are on a spectrum of animal cruelty so if riding is banned then everything else will follow. Then of course, we can move onto dogs, cats and all other animals.

I guess when you think about it, there’s no real justification to ride horses now. Few work, we’ve made them redundant in our day to day lives with cars and the like. Actually, maybe what we should do is ban all cars and reinstate horses in every home. Environmentally better for all and think of all that lovely car free hacking.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

What next, after a riding ban? Complete ban of ownership at all? I mean, it seems certain parties are saying that all forms of horsemanship are on a spectrum of animal cruelty so if riding is banned then everything else will follow. Then of course, we can move onto dogs, cats and all other animals.

I guess when you think about it, there’s no real justification to ride horses now. Few work, we’ve made them redundant in our day to day lives with cars and the like. Actually, maybe what we should do is ban all cars and reinstate horses in every home. Environmentally better for all and think of all that lovely car free hacking.

Animal welfare would be greatly improved if the commercial pet trade (as in shops ) were outlawed, if all animals currently in the pet trade were allowed to be rehomed/humanely euthanised.

 

[Caol Ila]

And if we’re banning riding because it’s cruel, then surely keeping animals for meat has to follow.

My horse pottering through the park is having a nicer time than a pig in a slaughterhouse. No doubt about that!

I think people would go ballistic with protests at a riding ban, but you haven’t seen nothing until there’s a bacon ban.

 

[Bellaboo18]

Is horse ownership in decline? I don't know if it is but I think it will be over-time so I don't see an over-night ban/cull but a gradual decline in numbers. People not replacing horses, less people getting in to the industry etc.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

Apparently growing

Historical Pet Data

www.ukpetfood.org

UK Pet Population

www.ukpetfood.org

 

[HopOnTrot]

What about a future where only those that use positive reinforcement can compete? Everyone would have to retain but it could be interesting!

 

[Fizzandfun]

Animal welfare would be greatly improved if the commercial pet trade (as in shops ) were outlawed, if all animals currently in the pet trade were allowed to be rehomed/humanely euthanised.

Quite - but could the same be said for horse dealers too? I mean, home producers are also commercial in the sense that they don’t sell for free. Standards of welfare should be better but they’re not. Again, should we ban animal ownership completely if we are considering a riding ban?

 

[FieldOrnaments]

Quite - but could the same be said for horse dealers too? I mean, home producers are also commercial in the sense that they don’t sell for free. Standards of welfare should be better but they’re not. Again, should we ban animal ownership completely if we are considering a riding ban?

There's also the question of where does one even draw the line re. "commercial" - council licensing say it's £1000pa from selling animals currently but iirc it's quite open to interpretation. If riding was banned and all horses became by default pets (I know they are pets but most people do not think of them as such) would they fall under this license too? Anyone who wanted to sell a horse would need a license to do so, and a license is about £370 to apply for, needs renewing annually including veterinary and council inspection of facilities.

 

[sunnyone]

This may be a hypothetical question now but yesterday I got a "please sign this petition" email from one of my French sites asking for horses to be banned entirely from the Olympics.
I did not sign but it could be the very thin edge of a wedge. I'm sure we have all noticed how the equestrian TV coverage has been removed from FTA channels already.

 

[paddi22]

if riding was banned, i think stuff like horse agility and showing would be areas a lot of owners would move into. i'd imagine stuff like inhand dressage shows would also be a thing.

 

[Kaylum]

They would still breed showing equines I guess. So there would be lots of in hand shows and agility type things going on as already said.. As for welfare charities it's very bad for them at the moment. They only have limited space, money, staff, facilities to cope with what they have. So I suspect more charities will be made. Welfare is a complex industry to be in. There are so may factors to consider. Hopefully this doesn't happen as it seems to be charities get the blame for not helping animals, when they don't have the resources and the animal welfare law needs a big shake up.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Bit drastic, but I also would emigrate with my equines. Failing that sorry but life would not be worth living for me, so I would join my past equines.

 

[Snowfilly]

I think most pets would be PTS fairly quickly. I can’t imagine there would be a desire to spend endless amounts of money on animals that can’t actually do anything.

Decent sports horses would be sold abroad, most would be shot, most of the British breeds would become extinct fairly quickly. You might find a few people who want to keep minis or show in hand but vet care and feed would become harder to access, much like keeping exotics is now, and that would put people off. I feel showing types would degrade even quicker than they are now as well.

I love my old crock of a pony, but I keep him in gratitude for all the glorious years we shared. I wouldn’t bother having a non-ridden one, in the same way I wouldn’t bother having a dog that couldn’t go for walks or a chicken that didn’t lay eggs. There has to be a point to it all.

 

[suestowford]

I love my old crock of a pony, but I keep him in gratitude for all the glorious years we shared. I wouldn’t bother having a non-ridden one, in the same way I wouldn’t bother having a dog that couldn’t go for walks or a chicken that didn’t lay eggs. There has to be a point to it all.

One of the ponies here has been with me 15 years. He's never done a day's work in his life, he's too small to ride and too ornery to be safe in a carriage. But he does have a point because there have been times where I might have given up on life, if not for him clowning around and lifting my spirits.
He came to me with a bad reputation, and figuring him out and how best to interact with him has been a valuable set of lessons for me. He owes me nothing.

 

[maisie06]

I wouldn’t say it’s impossible as some posters are critical of you op which is unfair. we are changing as a society to the point we’re some things that people got locked up in mental institutions years ago are perfectly acceptable nowadays , it’s entirely possible for the horse sports industry to be banned . People forget these teenagers that have strong opinions on animal welfare could be the ones running the country in a few years time. I can’t see something as old as riding still a thing in the future especially when we get more into technology in the next 50 years . Plus globe warming is going to negatively
affect farming and equtrain industries , population growth will take any equestrian land we use for horses

1. Land will be used for housing development and construction projects

It already is around my way, lots of yards being sold off at least 5 large ones gone under housing in the last 3 years.

2. Horse will no longer be breed or expensive horse will be moved to another country but it will eventually dye out . I think minis / Shetland ponies will be trendy.

And unfortunatley this will lead to a whole host of welfare issues as numpties snap them up because they are cute.

3. Everything will slowly change people will go into non equestrian jobs and jobs will stops looking for people, tack shops will shut, livery yard will be closed and sold to developers for a few years.

This is already starting - feed companies are making reps redundant, tack shops in my area have closed and see point above regarding livery yards.

4. People Who own land will keep their horse till the die and not replace them, or they keep non ridden horses.

This ai happening too - mainly due to cost of living and ageing horsey people!

5. the industry will go first racing and pro show jumping/ drassage/ eventing. People who just ride for fun will be able to be there for a few years.

Under this government I wouldn't be surprised....they have already made moves to ban greyhound racing...

6. Horses will be used for meat production to cut the population and then eventually will not be used.

I'm not actually against this, we wouldn't have half the scale of fly grazing/scenes from Ambersham if we used horses for meat and horse meat is actually quite nice and a healthy alternative to Beef, if you eat ready meals you've probably eaten horse!


A very interesting topic and I'm glad I'm getting old, I can see this country eventually banning everything, keeping pets included, we'll all be given government issue spoons to eat our government issue beancurd with...

 

[Beausmate]

Horse values would plummet, making a horse a 'cheap' prospect as a pet for people who wouldn't have a clue how to look after one. Just keep it in the garden, until the kids are bored and you're fed up with cleaning up after the thing, then dump it and buy a puppy instead. Land would be sold off for housing development and renewable energy farms. Unemployment would increase, as stable staff are laid off and feed and equipment manufacturing are scaled down. Many, many horses will be culled or abandoned, or end up in entirely unsuitable homes. Funding in veterinary research would be drastically cut, as there wouldn't be the racing or sportshorse industry to support it.

Maybe all that would be left, are exhibitions like that hideous place in China. Or more likely, virtual reality 'stables' for those curious about the olden days.

I'm glad I (probably, hopefully!) won't be around to see it.

 

[SadKen]

I’d just ignore it, and I’m a bit surprised that isn’t the general consensus. They would have to catch me. Just say no to stupid laws.

 

[MagicMelon]

I think the need for grass livery would increase, as lots of people would opt to turn out their existing horses. I imagine a large number of horses would have their shoes removed, so there would be far more barefoot horses. Remedial shoeing would all but disappear as not many people would opt for that just to keep a horse field sound.
I think there would be an increase in abandoned horses.
It would have a huge knock-on effect for vets. My vet told me that a large part of his working week is travelling to competition yards and medicating joints to keep top horses working. Investigating lameness issues would massively reduce.
A lot of brands would go under.
The need for equine physios/chiros and body workers would seriously drop. Not many people would continue to use these professionals for horses they cannot work.

This.

 

[lme]

I'd probably still have the same type of horses that I have now but lead them out or learn to long rein them rather than ride them. They would still get physio etc but maybe not need it as often. Perhaps new non ridden horse 'sports' would develop. I assume the number of elite sports horse stallions available at stud and stud fees for those stallions would decrease. Maybe people would breed for colour or some other characteristic seen as desirable.