The message is clear, disturbing and widely shared. At the head of an equestrian center of around forty horses and ponies at Haras de la Bourdonnaye in Morbihan, Christophe Mallet speaks for it: “If for the summer, we haven't found a normal activity, there will be no more horse riding in France at the start of the school year! The activity is stopped: the centers closed, the competitions canceled and the riders are pedestrians.
Yesterday, @FFEquitation announced the launch of an exceptional # solidarity channel for clubs with the #CavalierSolidaire operation on https://t.co/VVOTjUep8w🐴🤝 @SergeLecomte, President of the FFE specifies the challenges of this movement ➡️ https://t.co/iSFERHGI8X pic.twitter.com/tyCn0NMmar
- FF Equitation (@FFEquitation) April 17, 2020It's the same everywhere except that horse riding has a double characteristic: confinement or not, a horse eats, cares for and maintains itself. So it costs money: "In hay alone, for a stable of 50 horses, it takes a budget of 2000 euros per week," blows an owner close to Paris. “Some clubs, deprived of surrounding pastures, especially in the Paris region, can no longer afford to pay for the food of their horses who are dying of hunger. It's unbearable ! "Alarms the Olympic champion at Rio Philippe Rozier.
Another peculiarity: unlike other sports clubs, those of horse riding are private structures, often small, living without subsidies from local authorities. What makes them live are their customers who are no longer there. “For a month, they have had all their usual expenses, taxes, care and others, but no more money, more competitions, internships, walks that allow them to live. Many clubs will not recover and will not be able to reopen, ”said Serge Lecomte, president of the French Federation.
Consequences for horses, many of which will end up in the butchery
According to an initial survey by the FFE, between 5 and 10% of the 6,500 equestrian centers in France in bankruptcy will not leave after the crisis with unfortunate consequences for horses, many of which will end up at the butchery. All the others have no certainty of being able to reopen under good conditions, in particular those favoring equestrian tourism which make 90% of their turnover during the summer months. “It's simple, deplores the Breton Christophe Mallet. Since the start of the crisis, I have lost 7,500 euros! I work at a loss, without paying myself. The worst part is that unlike other sectors, we have more work. The owners are not allowed to come and see their horses. So we have to deal with it. Without benefiting from partial unemployment assistance, I know of structures that had to hire to cope with workloads. Hire, so pay more without money coming in. Me for the moment, I want but it should not last too long. "
# COVID19 #Crisesanitaire The actions of the FFE are bearing fruit: the ministers @GDarmanin, @ dguillaume26 and @RoxaMaracineanu have announced specific and urgent financial support for equestrian centers receiving the public and pony clubs. ➡️ https://t.co/41llbe4nwT https://t.co/SCrAW1kmJz pic.twitter.com/ph7GDny9RM
- FF Equitation (@FFEquitation) April 21, 2020Restos du Coeur for Horses
Tuesday, without specifying the amount, the government announced "specific and urgent financial support for equestrian centers receiving the public and pony clubs which are experiencing financial difficulties due to confinement. To cope in the meantime, the clubs ask their licensees for an additional financial contribution, the federation mounts a chain of solidarity and the champions get their hands dirty.
With the help of rider personalities (Guillaume Canet, Nicolas Canteloup, Julien Courbet…) the Olympic champions Philippe Rozier and Roger-Yves Bost will give courses as soon as possible, all the benefits of which will go to the Ile-de-France committee, responsible it is up to him to donate the funds to help clubs that can no longer feed their animals. "We are launching the principle of Restos du Coeur, but for horses," says Philippe Rozier. “This crisis is unprecedented for the equestrian sector which I particularly like. The well-being of our horses is an obligation and even a duty! I will do my best to support such great initiatives as that of Philippe, ”insists Guillaume Canet.
With their support, RTL has already donated 10,000 euros to this initiative. In Normandy, Pénélope Leprévost bought tons of hay in the same spirit, to offer to centers in great difficulty.
No lessons, sales, competition winnings
Like the others, the gold medalists in Rio 4 years ago have also been riders on the ground for weeks, deprived of competitions. All are canceled, everywhere. "Usually, I never spend a weekend at home," points out Philippe Rozier. It is also good to put your suitcase down as you are lucky enough to always be able to go up. Many riders, on the other hand, are facing great financial difficulties. "
Newsletter - The essentials of the news
Every morning, the news seen by Le ParisienI'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to allow you to receive our news and commercial offers. Find out more
Professional riders, apart from their sponsors, have three sources of income: lessons, the horse trade and competition earnings. They are all dried up: “At La Baule, where we are organizing the biggest competition in the world in mid-May, we were to celebrate our 60th edition. For the first time, it is canceled. We took this step in time so as not to put ourselves in danger for the future. For other more modest, fragile and sources of revenue for clubs, canceling is a dramatic decision, ”worries Nadia Poirier, the contest director.
FIGURES
644,800. The number of licensees to the FFE, the third sports in France after football and tennis. 83% are women. It is estimated that there are 2 million riders in France.
22,000. The equestrian sector is the leading sports employer in France with 22,000 employees and 35,000 workers.
6500. France has 6,500 equestrian public buildings and hosting 400 000 ponies and horses.
