West Pinchbeck riding schools are facing difficult winter with rising costs and no income due to lockdown 3

Riding schools are appealing for a change in the rules or greater support to help them through the lockdown.

West Pinchbeck’s Four Winds Equestrian Centre and Raw Equine are seeing their costs rise during the winter months and have little income coming in due to the shut down.

The Association of British Riding Schools is calling on the Government to provide grants to help struggling businesses after more than 10% of its members have closed with others on the brink of closure.

While international dressage rider Pammy Hutton is backing a campaign which is fighting for riding schools to offer one-to-one lessons to experienced riders and is asking people to write to their MP.

The average cost to keep a school horse is £70 a week but additional costs are incurred during winter as some horses must be stabled which requires additional bedding and food. Nationally there are 3,056 riding school horses.

Sara Raw was only able to operate her riding school for a few weeks after being given her licence shortly before the November lockdown and is now facing sleepless nights over making ends meet.

Sara said: “It is not about shows or championships or anything else - it’s about survival.

“The Government does not understand that horses are a completely different world.”

Sara currently has 17 horses at her yard, including some rescues, and there are estimates that she is down up to £400 a week.

She said: “There is a straw shortage and most of us use straw as it is the cheapest. We might have to go on shavings and they are £5 a bale and that would be a horrendous cost. I go through eight round hay bales a week and they are £25 each.”

Paula Leverton says this is the worst period in the 40 years she has run Four Winds.

She is also facing additional weekly costs and is unable to furlough staff as they are needed to care for the horses.

Paula said: “We don’t want people to roam around more than necessary to prevent the spread of the virus but we do feel that we could offer safe instruction to more experienced riders.”

A DEFRA spokesman said: “We understand the challenges facing riding schools during these unprecedented times, but we have come to a critical juncture and must work together to get the rate of infection down.

“Staff who work at riding schools and people who keep their horses there can continue to visit in order to care for and exercise their horse. However, like other outdoor recreational spaces, riding schools must close to the general public as we all stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.”

A South Holland District Council spokesman said: "Riding schools are eligible for grant support if they have been mandated to close by law. Any riding school that hasn’t received support should contact the council via economicdevelopment@sholland.gov.uk"