New members – priority objectives

It is necessary to do a further analysis on the size of different groups within the equitation sector and to start using a certification system for leisure horses.

JENS EINARSSON:
Haraldur Þórarinsson, LH president was at the FEIF annual general meeting in Strasbourg. He says that one of the most interesting topic on the agenda in his opinion, was the lecture given by Silvie Rizo from France about the certification system for leisure horses.

In her speech she brought forth that the French horse association, and I am referring to the national union for all horse breeds, and have done an extensive analysis on the combination of horse people within the organization. Actually, this is on what foundation people practice equitation; whether people are practicing horse breeding, competition, leisure horse riding etc.  

If I remember correctly, I said that there were about 700 persons in this organization and equitation is the third largest sport in France. By far, most people are leisure horse people, probably y about 80%. In that group middle aged woman are absolute majority, women who have raised their children and have chosen equitation as a hobby.
There is no question about it, that the safety issue is important for this group of people and that they can trust that the horses they are buying are not dangerous, and that their temperament is dependable. The French have therefore developed a detailed test for leisure horses which is used by personnel working for the horse association. The horses are graded for their temperament, gaits etc., they receive a score for each quality and a certificate if they pass the test.

My opinion is that this is the most important factor for new people in the Icelandic equitation. We should not forget that Gunnar Bjarnason marketed the Icelandic horse first and foremost as an affordable and a dependable family horse and this is how the horse became as wide spread as it is. We have perhaps forgotten ourselves a bit by concentrating on the competition- and show horse, which is good and valid by itself. But the prerequisite for new persons practicing horse riding to some extent is that ordinary people can find manageable horses and affordable facilities.

Some time ago, I presented before the Association of Horse clubs ideas which resemble the aforementioned certification system. Unavoidably there have been costs involved, but according to Sylvie the sellers of horses in France are eager to pay for this certification, because it is a certain certification which makes selling horses easier. Therefore I believe that this will be more affordable for everyone. It is expensive and frustrating to have bought a horse which one cannot use. It is better to pay a little more for a safe horse and to be able to enjoy it,“ Haraldur says.