Monday, 16 December 2024
In partnership with Sheffield Hallam University and the Sport and Recreation Alliance, British Equestrian is pleased to release the findings of the first stage of their pioneering research project to determine the social value of equestrianism. This ambitious study aims to highlight the extensive benefits equestrian activities bring to individuals and communities, showcasing the unique social impact of the sector.
In February 2024, British Equestrian invited research partners to explore the impact of equestrian activities on physical health, mental wellbeing, personal development, community engagement, and social cohesion. Following a rigorous interview process, Sheffield Hallam University and the Sport and Recreation Alliance were selected to undertake this critical research.
The research team conducted a systematic search of academic databases, supplemented by a call for evidence in June which resulted in an overwhelming response of submissions, 856 pieces of published literature and case studies were gathered. Following a thorough screening process, 290 of these pieces of evidence were included for the final analysis. A significant portion of these focused on equine-assisted therapy and its transformative effects on participants.
The literature review, aligned with Sport England’s Social Value model, identified compelling evidence of equestrianism’s positive contributions across five social outcome areas.
1. Physical health
2. Mental health
3. Subjective wellbeing
4. Individual development
5. Social and community development
The research findings closely align with the government’s Get Active strategy and the health outcomes it seeks to achieve. The Federation works to support the goals of increasing activity levels and improving physical and mental health across the population and the report highlights the unique social impacts equestrianism offers in addition to the national model. Due to the involvement of horses, it’s one of only a few types of physical activity to have the therapeutic benefits of animal assisted therapy.
Mandana Mehran-Pour, Head of Participation and Development at British Equestrian, commented, “These findings highlight the transformative impact equestrian activities have on individuals and communities across the UK, contributing to physical health, mental wellbeing and social development. The wealth of research we’ve gathered demonstrates the vital role equestrianism plays in enhancing quality of life.
“One of the unique strengths highlighted in this review is the exceptional benefit equestrian activities offer to neurodivergent individuals and those with disabilities. This evidence sets equestrianism’s position as a truly inclusive and therapeutic sport, our next steps will be to quantify this social value to reinforce its importance in public health and community support.”
Abigail Bevan, Insight and Research Manager at British Equestrian, added, "It’s inspiring to bring together such a wealth of research that showcases the profound role equestrianism plays in improving lives. We’re grateful to Sheffield Hallam University and the Sport and Recreation Alliance for their expertise and dedication to this project."
Professor Simon Shibli, Director of the Sport Industry Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University said, “We were pleased to have the opportunity to work with the British Equestrian team on this pioneering research. The volume and quality of literature we found were staggering and now provide a sound basis for deriving the social value of equestrianism.”
Lisa Wainwright MBE, Chief Executive Officer at Sport and Recreation Alliance continues, “The findings demonstrate how important the role that equestrianism plays when it comes to making those who access it healthier and happier. The variety of ways in which equestrian activities can help participants, from improved wellbeing to better physical health, cements its vital role within the sport and recreation sector.
Furthermore, these findings highlight how important it is that the sport and recreation sector is able to offer a variety of activities- having a number of clubs and organisations that cater to a wide range of interests and skill levels helps to ensure inclusivity and accessibility for all.”
View the full findings of Stage one: Social value literature review here: BEF Social Value Full Report
View the executive summary here: BEF Social Value Exec Summary
Building on the results of the literature review, the project will progress to stage two, collating the research along with further evidence from across the sector to determine the measurable social value of equestrian activities. This next stage aims to solidify equestrianism’s role as a key contributor to the government’s Get Active strategy and its overarching public health goals. In addition, the results will help British Equestrian and our member bodies to:
The tender process for stage two is underway and we anticipate releasing the findings in 2025.