Riding Schools as Future Learning Centers for an Environmentally Just Equine Sector and Broader Society

Gabriella Torell Palmquist

Period: January 2022 – December 2024.

Project leader: Prof Susanna Hedenborg (Malmö University) & Prof Aage Radmann (Norwegian School of Sport Science)

Project members: PhD Gabriella Torell Palmquist (Ridskolan Strömsholm & Karlstad University), PhD Petra Andersson (University og Gothenburg), Prof Simon Kennedy Beames (Norwegian School of Sport Science), Anna Sätre (assistent) och Matilde Kronborg (assistent).

Funding: The Swedish-Norwegian Foundation for Equine Research

Partners: Malmö University, Ridskolan Strömsholm och Norwegian School of Sport Science.

Project Description

The equine sector generates recreational activities for children, youth, and adults, as well as employment opportunities for individuals of all ages, while also impacting the environment. Studies on the environmental impact caused by the equine sector indicate that nutrient leakage from manure piles, paddocks, and grazing fields is a problem; feed and transportation are additional factors. Knowledge about the sector's negative environmental impact exists, but few studies focus on evaluating strategies for implementing changes in the daily operations of riding schools.

Stakeholders within the sector have been viewed as potential threats to the environment rather than carriers of solutions. We aim to change this perspective. The purpose of the project is to collaborate with riding schools, associations, and higher education institutions to generate an environmental transformation of the sector, with a focus on the behavior and decision-making of individual and collective actors, as these actors are crucial for driving change. Such a transformation will enhance the sector's ability to function as a positive force for change in society.

Feature:

Hedenborg, S., Andersson, P., Beams, S., Radmann, A., & Torell Palmquist, G. (2022). Riding Schools as Future Learning Centers for an Environ-mentally Just Equine Sector and Broader Society. Idrottsforum.org. Feature article published online March 2, 2022. https://idrottsforum.org/feature-hedenborgetal220302/