Open day aims to raise awareness of riding school

Cardiff Riding School helpers filling hay-nets

The Cardiff Riding School hopes to prevent the council from closing the establishment by holding an open day, on 30 October, to increase awareness.

The future of the council-funded riding school will be announced on 5 December, in the City Hall.

Jim Wood, the Chairman of ‘Friends of Cardiff Riding School’, explained: “The purpose of the open day is to raise awareness that the riding school is there and to make people realise that riding isn’t simply an elitist activity for a few people.”

Mr Wood emphasised the importance of allowing people to experience being around horses and to see what goes on in the establishment. He added: “It’s [horse-riding] something an awful lot of people can get a great deal out of.”

The Cardiff Riding School, which started up in 1970, is one of only two publicly operated riding stables in the UK.

Situated in Pontcanna Fields, the school offers a variety of lessons and competitions for adults, children and disabled riders.

On 30 January, Cardiff council announced that they were going to close the riding school because of a losses incurred.

A spontaneous protest took place outside the City Hall to keep the riding school open. Friends of Cardiff Riding School started a Facebook site and a petition which gathered over 7,000 signatures.

Some of the Friends of Cardiff Riding School visited Lee Valley Riding Centre, East London, as an example of a successful publicly owned equestrian establishment.

Friends of Cardiff Riding school have provided an in depth financial business proposal for the council.

The council will decide, on 5 December, whether or not they will transfer the riding school to a third party. Transferring the riding school to a third party could result in the horses and ponies being sold, an increase in prices and closure to the public.

Cardiff Council, Closure, Exercise, Horses, Riding, School, Welsh