Climate protection and equestrian sport belong together
Warendorf (fn-press).
The German Equestrian Federation (FN) has taken an important step in climate protection in equestrian sports with its "Green Stable" project. The project serves to raise awareness of this issue and to support equestrian sports clubs that want to make their facilities fit for ecologically sustainable use. This year, for the first time, the FN raffled off so-called eco-checks to clubs, and in the biodiversity competition, the creativity of equestrian athletes was called upon to implement projects at their home stables that benefit the protection of species. In addition, experts provided information on the topics of biodiversity and grassland at seminars.
"We want to set an example and show that our federation is leading by example when it comes to climate protection," says Thomas Ungruhe, Head of the FN Department Clubs, Environment, Popular Sports and Farms. The horse is part of nature and it connects man with nature. On horseback, man feels nature even more intensely than on foot. Since horses and nature have a direct influence on each other, equestrian sports are confronted with the consequences of climate change like hardly any other sport. Green areas for exercise and fodder production must be preserved, and field and forest paths must be protected in order to enable the animals to be kept in a manner appropriate to their species in the future. Therefore it is important that equestrians deal with the issues of climate protection and biodiversity.
The "Green Stable" project can be an incentive, but there are many other cost-effective ways of incorporating climate protection into everyday stable management. As part of a thematic focus, the FN provides information on its social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) on how this can be done and what needs to be taken into account. FN/Sina Stahlsmeier
