Cumbrian Heavy Horses, a rare breed riding centre near Millom, is facing potential closure within a year due to rising operational costs. Owner Annie Rose highlighted that expenses for feed, tack, staffing, and taxation have significantly increased, making it difficult to sustain the business. To stay afloat, the centre is selling some horses, seeking new income streams like courses and a podcast, and has even launched a GoFundMe to support its rare Suffolk Punch horse breeding programme. Despite these challenges, Rose remains passionate and determined to keep the centre running without compromising animal welfare.

The financial strain on Cumbrian Heavy Horses reflects a wider trend affecting over 250 riding schools nationally, as reported by the British Horse Society. Rising costs linked to national living wage increases, insurance, electricity, business rates, and hay shortages are putting equestrian businesses under severe pressure. The British Horse Society expressed concern over the impact of these challenges on the sector, emphasizing the difficulty of balancing cost-cutting with maintaining high welfare standards for the animals.