Graham Cory, DEFRA's Official for the Horse, paid his first visit to the BEF on Friday 14 February, with two other representatives from the Horse Industry Team, Robert McCann and Judith Marsden.

The Chief Executives of the BEF Member Bodies each gave a presentation outlining their organisation's work, structure and aims. The Sporting Members gave the Team an insight into their respective disciplines, and Andrew Finding gave an overall view of the Federation and its work.

Aside from his responsibility for equine issues, Mr Cory is Head of DEFRA's Rural Economies and Strategy Division. This gives him a particular interest in the horse's contribution to rural economies, which he recognised was considerable, and its position as a vital element in many rural communities. For this reason, DEFRA is keen to work with the BEF and other industry bodies to agree a long term strategy to promote the horse and its place in rural England. He was particularly interested to learn from Members about how the 2001 FMD epidemic had affected their operations.

Mr Cory said; "The Department is grateful for the very constructive way that the BEF is working with the Department across the range of equestrian issues."

Andrew Finding said; "We were delighted to be able to brief the Official for the Horse and his team at Stoneleigh. This new relationship with Government through the
Official for the Horse should help the Federation, its members and the wider industry."

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