The Hungarian equestrian sector has received more funding during the past two years than it did in total during the past twenty, the Ministry of Rural Development's Parliamentary State Secretary Gyula Budai said at a press conference organised to present the results of a recent assessment of the sector.

Mr. Budai reminded those present that the Kincsem - National Equestrian Programme had been launched on 12 March 2012. The Programme's main objectives at to establish a unified and efficient management of state-owned stables, to review the financing of the equestrian sector, the introduction of equestrian training from 1 September 2014, the inclusion of equestrian therapy in Hungarian patient care and the funding of priority equestrian facilities and important equestrian events.

The Parliamentary State Secretary stressed that the sector has received a level of moral, professional and financial support over the past two years that guarantee the objectives of the Kincsem - National Equestrian Programme will definitely be realised.

Mr. Budai emphasised that the most important step was the reviewing of the funding system of the equestrian sector. This is what enabled the Government to already provide funding for the most important equestrian events last year. The funding provided for the CSIO***-W World Cup, the National Gallop, the Coach Racing European Championships and the Equestrian World Cup in 2013 totalled some 190 million forints. Following the Government's decision on 26 February 2014, this sum will be over 325 million forints this year, including the refurbishing and modernisation of the Kinizsi Equestrian Park in Fábiánsebestyén.

This is not the only facility development programme planned for this year. Last year, the Government also decided to spend 1.6 billion forints (EUR 5m) on the renovation of the State Horse Farm in Szilvásvárad and 2 billion (EUR 6.4m) forints on the European-standard reconstruction of the National Stables.

In harmony with the Kincsem - National Equestrian Programme, the Ministry of Rural Development has been managing the ownership rights to state-owned stables since 1 January 2014, and on 21 June 2013 the amendment of the Act on Forests, Forest Protection and Forest Management gave riders free range to use Hungary's forests.

Gyula Budai also stated that a working group had been set up with the participation of the Ministry of Rural Development, the Ministry of Human Resources, the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice, the Klebelsberg Institution Maintenance Centre and the Hungarian Equestrian Sports Association to organise the widespread introduction of the teaching of equestrian culture in secondary schools.

The working group has prepared a plan according to which children from 300 secondary schools can enjoy equestrian sports teaching within the framework of their everyday physical education classes from 1 September 2014 with the participation of 320 stables. Teaching also enables the professional background for equestrian therapy to receive suitable attention within the framework of healthcare services.

The Parliamentary State Secretary stressed that every single element of the Equestrian Programme serves to enable Hungary to once again be an equestiran nation.

(Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)