John Yeomans and Janet Cochrane set up Ride Yorkshire

John Yeomans, chairman of Visit York, and Janet Cochrane, of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism at Leeds Metropolitan University, have set up organisation Ride Yorkshire to promote the sport and associated businesses in Yorkshire.

Janet Cochrane said the organisation was seeking funding to do research into the economic impact of leisure horse riding in Yorkshire and was also advising equestrian businesses on how to benefit from increased riding activity.

“There’s so much that we can do,” she said. “Equestrian tourism is something that’s on the increase. The number of riders and horses is increasing and Yorkshire is the ideal place to ride.”

The organisation plans to promote riding in Yorkshire outside the region and urban areas within Yorkshire through initiatives like Try a Ride days.

The organisation has already started to help businesses by writing a letter of support for a farm bed and breakfast, which is trying to get a grant from the rural development programme to build stables so it can offer bed and breakfast for horse riders. It has also helped an entrepreneur interested in setting up a horse holidays business to get advice from Business Link and to identify nearby trails.

Other ideas include promoting qualifications for lead riders so qualified riders can take groups out on routes in the local area to earn a living.

Janet said the horse holiday market was big in Yorkshire with a recent event attracting 55 horse owners and their families from as far afield as Essex and Warwickshire. The guests contributed to the local economy by camping at a local farm and visiting the local pub.

“From informal market research I did speaking to these people, I found that if they are happy to drive their horses to Yorkshire as long as they know they have the services they need once they get here,” said Janet.

Janet and John came up with the idea when they bumped into each other riding on the North York Moors.