LONDON - Horse riders across the UK are joining together to urge the Government to think again about imposing an unfair “tax in all but name” on every horse owner in the UK.

The “Rethink the Horse Tax” campaign, launched today by a coalition of organisations representing the UK’s horse community, is calling on riders, breeders and veterinarians to make their voices heard by visiting a new campaign website - www.RethinktheHorseTax.org - and take action by writing to their constituency MPs and by signing an online petition to the Prime Minister.

Campaigners are concerned that plans to create a new agency responsible for managing outbreaks of animal disease will place mounting costs on horse owners - in the form of a new annual charge for each animal - at a time when Government support is needed to help boost rural economies and encourage wider participation in outdoor sport.

Under the plans, horse owners would be charged alongside keepers of livestock farm animals such as sheep and pigs - despite the fact that a significant proportion of horses are kept for leisure and sporting, rather than commercial activities, paid for out of income that is already taxed.

There are also concerns that the proposals would have a negative impact on the horseracing industry, which contributes GBP300m in annual taxation revenue to Government coffers and already spends GBP750,000 each year on disease prevention and management.

Veterinary surgeons have made it clear that creating a new agency could needlessly complicate the process of managing outbreaks of animal disease animal health, putting at risk the clear single line of command essential in the event of a major disease outbreak.

Campaigners have also highlighted the fact that the new body would spend much of its time collecting charges from people who own just one horse (65% of horse owners), meaning that the cost of physically collecting the charge will almost outweigh the charge itself - an estimated GBP2.3m would be needed to collect just GBP4.5m from horse owners under the plans. The new body would cost GBP14.3m to set up and millions more to maintain in the coming years.

The campaign is urging the Government to work with all sections of the equine community to find a fair alternative solution to managing animal disease.

Andrew Finding, Chief Executive of the British Equestrian Federation said:

“Through this campaign the horse community has an opportunity to make its voice heard and send a strong message to the Government on cost sharing. The proposals just don’t make a convincing case on how hitting horse owners with new costs and extra bureaucracy will benefit either the equine community or taxpayers in general.”

Mark Weston, Director of Access Safety and Welfare at the British Horse Society, said:

“We need to make sure that politicians in Westminster are made fully aware of the potential damage that these proposals could do to the horse sector, and the lack of any perceived benefit that they would bring to the millions of Britons who enjoy horse riding each year.’

Notes to Editors

Rethink the Horse Tax is a not-for-profit campaign led by a coalition of organisations representing all parts of the UK horse industry:

- The British Horseracing Authority (BHA)

- The British Equestrian Federation (BEF)

- The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (TBA)

- The British Horse Society (BHS)

- The British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA)

- The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA)

- The National Trainers Federation (NTF)

- The Racecourse Owners Association (ROA)

Defra’s proposals are available to view here: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/new-independent-body-ah/index.htm

Source: The Rethink the Horse Tax Campaign

Jonathan Ware, +44(07590-477-941