EUnetHorse, a European network for knowledge exchange and learning among stakeholders in the equine sector, has produced a Policy Brief aimed at European institutions to highlight the strategic importance of the horse in Europe.
The document underlines that the European equine sector makes a significant contribution in areas such as rural development, sustainability, biodiversity, the economy, innovation and territorial cohesion. According to the report itself, Europe has more than 9.2 million horses, generates around 800,000 jobs and represents an estimated annual economic value of €100 billion.
Among the main proposals set out in the Policy Brief, three stand out: reaffirming the agricultural status of equids, reinstating them in European agricultural statistics, and ensuring the eligibility of equine holdings under the future Common Agricultural Policy.