Tomorrow the new government will present its first budget and now there is great concern among the country’s sports associations that it will not contain any support for them. The situation has been extremely difficult ever since the pandemic and now high electricity and interest costs have added to the crisis.
TV4 News visits one of Sweden’s oldest riding schools, Gothenburg’s cross country club, where 600 students a week learn everything about horses. Here, the cost of electricity has increased fivefold recently, but also the price of feed and fuel has caused the club’s costs to skyrocket.
– It affects that we have had to raise our riding fees, which is something we do not want to do. We are afraid that we will end up in a situation where our children and young people will not be able to afford to ride in the end, says operations manager Erica Johansson.
Most of the riding schools affiliated to the Swedish Riding Sports Association are run on a non-profit basis, some with municipal support, others not. This means that the uncertainty ahead of the winter is extra great and the Swedish Equestrian Federation is now hoping for a clear statement from Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed and the politicians when the budget is presented.
– I would like to know how they can help us in this situation, because it is important that we all remain. Because we take a big social responsibility and are an important part of public health, says Anna Reilly, adviser to the Swedish Equestrian Federation.
In the player above: See the feature from the riding club and hear more about the sports associations’ concerns before the winter of war.