British Equestrian Trade Association

Profile:
The British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) was established in 1978 and represents around 800 UK equestrian manufacturers, distributors and retailers.
Today the trade association, based near Wetherby in Yorkshire, is led by executive director Claire Williams and employs a staff of 12 people.
BETA works for excellence on behalf of equestrian shoppers and encourages professionalism amongst retailers. This includes training retailers in the correct fitting and safety of riding hats and body protectors.
Horse owners and riders can benefit from BETA’s work by shopping with confidence where they see the BETA sign.
Lobbying at local, national and European Government level, as well as working with various equestrian bodies including the sporting disciplines, are other important BETA functions.
A key element of the work covers monitoring riding equipment safety standards. BETA devised and administers the internationally recognised BETA Body Protector Standard. BETA also produced the often-quoted National Equestrian Survey.
The BETA Group, of which the trade association is the main umbrella body, also consists of a wholly-owned subsidiary called Equestrian Management Consultants (EMC). EMC’s activity helps to fund the trade association’s work.
EMC publishes the monthly trade journal Equestrian Trade News. Other publications include the British Equestrian Directory which lists contact details for more than 21,000 British equine professionals and specialists in 250 categories, and the Trade Suppliers Directory – a guide to more than 2,000 UK based equestrian suppliers and distributors.
EMC organises BETA International, the world’s foremost equestrian and country trade exhibition. In 2007, more than 390 exhibitors came from 22 different countries.
BETA also organises a series of trade missions to promote British equestrian products and services to new and emerging export markets.
Made possible by funding from British government agency UK Trade & Investments (UKTI), BETA-led groups have attended important trade and consumer shows in Germany, the US, Russia and Australia during the last 12-months. BETA also attends equestrian shows and events cross the UK in order to answer riders’ and horse owners’ questions and to promote its work.
The Business Fledgling Pack, available to would-be retailers, is just one example of how BETA fosters and encourages entrepreneurial activity.


What BETA membership means

BETA is very particular about which retailers are allowed to become members – a policy deliberately designed to protect the consumer. In order to join BETA, and have the right to display the BETA logo, a retailer must prove that it is a professionally run business of benefit to the industry with an understanding of best practice guidelines set by the trade association for members.
This means that customers who shop with BETA Retail Members – as indicated by the BETA logo being displayed – can be reassured of a good standard of service. If shoppers are disappointed with that service, they can complain to BETA who will investigate.
In order to help members, and potential members, meet these stringent criteria, BETA runs a series of training courses to promote professional skills among equestrian retailers. Courses cover subjects such as health and safety and visual merchandising; while others enable retailers to become qualified to sell horse wormers (BETA successfully lobbied the British government to enable retailers to retain the right to sell wormers) or have a better understanding of saddlery and lorinery.
BETA welcomes competition and choice, while much of its work reflects changing trends within the market for equestrian products. For example, the BETA Feed Committee introduced a code of conduct under which manufacturers undertake to label their feeds and supplements in a legal, clear and fair way.
As an organisation known to and trusted by the UK riding public, BETA is often asked to respond to various consumer issues raised by newspapers and magazines.
In other areas of activity, nominations are pouring in for the 2008 BETA Business Awards. To be presented at the BETA Gala Dinner in February, these are the British equestrian industry’s ‘Oscars’ and recognise outstanding achievement in categories from best feed merchant to best equestrian event.
BETA welcomes enquiries about any aspect of British equestrian business. Contact The British Equestrian Trade Association, East Wing, Stockeld Park, Wetherby, LS22 4AW, UK. Or visit www.beta-uk.com
To find out more about BETA International 2008, visit www.beta-int.com

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