Thank you for contacting me about the possibility of using Britain’s future agricultural policy, after we have left the EU, to support horse riding.
Leaving the EU creates an opportunity to design a domestic agricultural policy that will stand the test of time. Starting from first principles we can bring in innovative new ideas to support investment in healthy, sustainable British food production and do much better for farming, the environment and animal welfare.
The Government proposes to move to a system of paying farmers public money for public goods. The principal public good it anticipates the system promoting is environmental enhancement but I know that my Ministerial colleagues have been happy to consider suggestions of other public benefits, such as the enhancement of the bridleway network.
Ministers have consulted widely with farmers and others and will publish a response shortly. I hope that you and the British Horse Society were able to participate in this exercise and make your views heard.