British Equestrian partners with State of Life to drive instrumental social value research forward
Following on from an initial research phase in 2024, British Equestrian are now progressing with the next stage of our groundbreaking project to investigate the social value of equestrianism with exciting research partners State of Life.
State of Life has worked with several sports and community organisations on similar projects, providing efficient, yet in-depth analysis of their social impact. They are leading the consortium that are developing the new national model of social value of sport and physical activity for Sport England. This work follows government guidance to estimate the significant contribution of community sport and physical activity to health and wellbeing in England.
What we learned from phase one
Run in conjunction with Sheffield Hallam University and Sport and Recreation Alliance, the first phase of our project gathered research evidence to demonstrate the extensive impact of involvement in equestrian sector. Equestrian activities proved to have benefits across the social value outcomes of physical and mental health, subjective wellbeing and individual, social and community development.
Riding, yard work and hippotherapy contribute to fitness and rehabilitation, while equine assisted therapy provides therapeutic support for those with conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. Engaging in equestrian activities has demonstrated increase in confidence, employability and social connections, strengthening both individuals and communities.
Read the full stage one findings here.
What the next stage means for equestrianism
Now, stage two will take this research to the next level, drawing on stage one, sector-level and national data, to calculate the monetary figure of equestrian social value. This phase aims to show equestrian activity can be a vital contributor to public health, aligning with the government’s Get Active strategy. The findings will enable British Equestrian and our member bodies to:
showcase the industry’s impact on people’s lives across the UK
shape future strategies with data-driven insights
advocate for equestrianism’s unique benefits
strengthen investment and strategic partnerships.
Mandana Mehran-Pour, Head of Participation and Development at British Equestrian, commented, "We’re delighted to partner with State of Life to deliver this first-of-its-kind research project in our sector. We all understand the powerful impact of our relationships with horses, as well as the activities that come with it, so we need to put this into quantitative evidence that demonstrates the impressive benefits involvement within our sector can bring. It’s an important foundation to continue building our work to improve access to our sector, whether to participate, volunteer or build a career.
“A massive thank you, also, to Sheffield Hallam University and Sport and Recreation Alliance for their efforts in stage one of this project, finding the evidence and building our case to be able to determine the overall social value of our sector.”
Abigail Bevan, Insight and Research Manager at British Equestrian, added, "We’re excited to measure the tangible impact of equestrianism, following the gathering of research which has proven the vast benefits our sector provides to the community, by encouraging people to spend time in outdoor spaces, connecting with nature, creating friendships and enjoying partnerships with our incredible horses.”
Lizzie Trotter, Head of Social Impact and Wellbeing at State of Life also commented, “We’re thrilled to work with British Equestrian to explore the social value of equestrianism. Encouraging evidence shows it reaches a wide range of people, including those with disabilities and others less likely to take part in traditional sports — and it can offer unique benefits. We’re excited to see what the data reveals."
The final report is planned to be presented in autumn 2025, which will bring progress to shape the future of equestrianism, helping to open the industry to wider communities and demonstrate our positive impact in society.