Tuesday, 08 September 2026
British Equestrian has announced a new partnership with Hartpury University to deliver a major workforce and volunteers project for the UK equestrian sector.
Runing through the remainder of 2026 and into 2027, the project will build the most comprehensive picture to date of Britain’s equestrian workforce, including paid staff, freelancers, self-employed professionals and volunteers. The aim is to gain vital evidence to better understand the people who underpin the sector, the roles they perform and the challenges and opportunities they face.
A key part of British Equestrian’s strategic commitment to supporting a sustainable, inclusive and thriving equestrian community, the work will address gaps in workforce data, improve consistency in role definitions and tackle barriers to recruitment and retention.
Led by Hartpury University, the project will be delivered in multiple phases, with their PR partner Northern Hive supporting Hartpury on stakeholder engagement and communications.
A national workforce survey to create a clear baseline of demographics, roles, qualifications and challenges kicks off the process which will then be followed by interviews and focus groups to ensure the findings reflect lived experience across the sector.
The team will then analyse the findings and make key recommendations around:
It’s anticipated the project will result in a workforce development roadmap, alongside a national dataset, insights report and monitoring framework to support long-term delivery across the industry by a range of stakeholder groups.
Hartpury University has a strong track record in delivering large-scale workforce research and extensive industry networks.
Professor Jane Williams, Director of Research at Hartpury University commented, “This project is an important opportunity to build a clearer understanding of the people who underpin the equestrian sector. By combining our robust research expertise with meaningful engagement across one of our specialist industries, we’ll create the evidence needed to inform future workforce development and help British Equestrian build a more sustainable and inclusive sector. We’re proud to be leading this research and look forward to producing insights that can make a real difference for the workforce.”
This project is designed to deliver practical outcomes which will help British Equestrian and its member bodies strengthen recruitment and retention, whilst creating clearer, more accessible career pathways across the industry.
The work will also focus on inclusion, wellbeing and workforce sustainability, helping ensure equestrianism remains accessible and resilient for future generations.
As part of the project, British Equestrian is inviting everyone involved in the equestrian workforce to take part in a national survey. Whether you're a paid member of staff, freelancer, self-employed professional or volunteer, your experiences will help build a clearer picture of the people who keep our sector running.
The survey will explore roles, career pathways, training and qualifications, as well as the challenges and opportunities experienced around recruitment, retention, progression, inclusion, wellbeing and workforce sustainability.
All responses are anonymous and will help create a national evidence base to inform future workforce development, support systems, training opportunities and career pathways across the equestrian sector. Plus, by completing the survey, you can enter the prize draw to win one of five £50 LeMieux vouchers.
If your main role is paid, answer this survey (there is an option to add any secondary volunteer work you do within this survey): https://bit.ly/BEFWorkforceSurvey26
If your main role is volunteer work, answer this survey: https://bit.ly/BEFVolunteerSurvey26
The surveys close on: 31 October 2026
Abbie Bevan, Insight and Research Manager at British Equestrian, said, “I’m excited to be working alongside Hartpury and Northern Hive to get this project started. The equestrian workforce is the backbone of our sport and activity, and with increasing pressures, we need strong evidence to support the sector in the best way possible.
“This survey is the vital first step. We want to hear from as many people as possible, from volunteers and coaches to yard staff, grooms, officials and business owners. Every response will help us better understand the workforce and shape the support, training and opportunities needed for the future."