2012 Equestrian Legacy Framework for Cheshire & Warrington
Through Embrace the Games, the 2012 legacy framework for Cheshire & Warrington, the strengths of the sport of equestrian emerged across the sub-region.
There is a long and successful equestrian heritage and the sub-region is recognised for its equine infrastructure, including Centres of Excellence; home to an Equine Academy at Reaseheath College; the staging of some national events at Chester Racecourse and Bolesworth Castle; and equestrian tourism.
However the sector has historically been fragmented and Visit Chester and Cheshire commissioned Prospects4Sport to explore the opportunities for developing the equine sector in Cheshire & Warrington as part of creating a lasting 2012 legacy.
We produced the equestrian legacy framework using a variety of methods:
- research nationally and internationally
- an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the various aspects of the equine sector
- collating the views of the sector through consultation (with the British Equestrian Federation and its member bodies; facility providers including the venues identified in the LOCOG training camp directory; Reaseheath College; the tourism and major events sector; and the race horse sector).
The resulting framework set out an overall vision and objectives for growing the equine sector and a series of opportunities as identified by the sector which included:
- equestrian events
- equine tourism
- participation and growing the sport
- support for the equine industry
- marketing and PR.
This framework has enabled Visit Chester and Cheshire and the sector to pull together key partners to assist in taking the work forward and developing the sport of equestrian, linking in with the opportunities that the 2012 Games bring.