"The equine business is being killed by Brexit", Olympic gold medal-winning rider Nick Skelton told the Telegraph. "It's been catastrophic as far as the movement of horses to and from Europe is concerned." The government should now decide wether they stand by and watch equine industries being wiped out. Or wether it takes the view that these complications the Brexit brings along, is an unacceptable "bump in the road" that can and should be prevented.
Skelton used to train 60 horses from around Europe in Warwickshire. But however, he now had to move those activities to Holland, because the hassle and expense of moving horses across the Channel has tipped his clients over the edge.
Horse racing is facing a similar problem. If you would want to run a horse in France, the lorry transporting is not allowed on to the ferry. Unless it has an appointment with a French inspection vet in Calais or Caen. The wait in Calais can easily be hours, even when you have an appointment.
The fact that the cost of processing numerous pages of forms has doubled is also pointed out by a lot of people. This problem leads to racehorses that are more likely to be sent to France or Ireland to be trained than the UK. Horses are also a subjet to VAT when they move in and out of Europe. This is a lose for their owners. Either a carnet, which can cost up to 1.000 pound, can be purchased to waiver the payment of tax. This is if the horse is due to return to its residing country. Unless the VAT is paid and reclaimed.
People now ask the government of the UK to step in and cover the short term financial disadvantage, to keep our equine industries alive. However, if they decide to ignore the problems the equine world is facing due to the Brexit, there wil be an exodus of trade and jobs to the continent.
Source: The Telegraph
