Equestrian sports have countless participants and enthusiasts, and a great many people work in the equestrian sector. But two things are essential for the future of this wonderful sport: the horse or pony and the rider.
There are about 450,000 horses and approximately 500,000 riders in the Netherlands, 50,000 of whom are active in competitive sports. You’d think there’d be plenty of choice. Yet it sometimes proves difficult for breeders to find a suitable, talented rider who can train their offspring. And so, high-quality horses and ponies graze in the pastures, while at the same time there are ambitious young riders without a suitable horse.
What a waste of potential on both sides! That was the view of the organizers (including Koepel Fokkerij, KWPN, KNHS, NNFPS, NWPCS, Vereniging Eigen Paard, Terra College and Aeves University of Applied Sciences, Hekkelman Advocaten en Notarissen, and FNRS) of the national program ‘Owner Seeks Rider,’ which aims to create the best possible matches between horses and riders in various disciplines.
In a nutshell
The plan in a nutshell: Through regional programs, breeders are supported by matching their young horses and ponies with suitable riders, who in turn receive guidance from professionals. Through this collaboration, both parties can help each other achieve their goals at various levels: from breaking in to competitive performance, or training in preparation for the sale of the horse or pony. The regional teams coordinate, match, support, and guide participants across a broad spectrum, but always with a personalized approach. A suitable program is selected for each owner-rider pairing. Agreements are established between both parties so that all participants are clear on the terms.
An ambitious plan with a bright future for our sector, but we can’t do this alone. That’s why we’re looking for people who want to help us launch and organize the regional programs: every province—with the exception of Limburg, where a project is already up and running successfully—is seeking enthusiastic candidates to get the program off the ground, so that we can eventually work on making the right matches.
Contact
Would you like to get involved in the regional program in your province? Or would you like to speak with someone first to find out exactly what’s involved? If so, please contact us using the contact form on the website or by emailing: info@eigenaarzoektruiter.nl. Would you like more information first? Then visit www.eigenaarzoektruiter.nl.
Source: Press Release
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