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International Symposium
Horses, Tourism and Leisure:
Continuities, Transformations and Change
Tourism, leisure, local development, businesses, participants and stakeholders
Call for papers: International symposium: « Horses, Tourism and Leisure: continuities, transformations and change »
9, 10 et 11 Mai 2012, Saumur
Ingénierie du Tourisme, du Bâtiment et des Services, Université of Angers Institut Français du Cheval et de l’Equitation
In partnership with the Conseil des Equidés and the Region Pays de La Loire.
The objective of this symposium is to stimulate debate at an international level between researchers specialising in the different spheres of Social and Human Sciences and the public and private stakeholders concerned with the development of equestrian-based tourism and leisure. The intention is to:
• identify the interests and challenges for local development;
• create a better knowledge and understanding of the business practises and the requirements of all stakeholders involved;
• Conduct an analysis of the jobs, roles and the development of the various professional bodies involved in the field of horse riding.
In this context, the goal of the symposium is to create a forum for debate and exchange of ideas between academics, political representatives and representatives of the institutions, associations and private companies involved in the equestrianism industry, both nationally
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and internationally. The plan to hold the Symposium every four years would ensure a productive continuation of dialogue and debate.
Call for Papers:
In the context of leisure and rural diversity there has been an indisputable increase in the number of equestrian businesses established in the recent past. In France, the number of riders registered with the Equestrian French Federation has increased five-fold over the last twenty- five years, from 145,071 in 1984 to 687,334 by 2010. Leisure is the predominant factor amongst this increased membership: in 2010 only 10.5% of the licences issued during that period related to competition, which means that almost 90% of the riders registered with the Federation are involved in equestrian leisure activities in all their various forms. The profile of riders (in France in 2010) has been established as constituting 80% women, with 65%
being young people age 17 years old or under. However, the specific details of the various equestrian activities being pursued needs further analysis due to the great variety of activities covered by horse riding; from classical pursuits such as dressage, jumping, eventing and racing to vaulting, harnessing, polo, horse-ball, ski-joering, pony games, endurance, trekking, western riding, cross country riding and equestrian tourism. It should be noted that not all riders are registered and therefore identifiable because in France cross country riding and simply riding out as part of equestrian tourism do not have to be registered with the Federation or require a licence.
There has been little scientific research to date, in order to help underpin a better understanding of this phenomenon, into the development and diversification of the various equestrian sports/ pastimes or, indeed, into the motivation behind this increased activity.
Indeed, it would be an interesting task to study the international diversity within the different horse riding opportunities and businesses models/ practices across the globe. Would such a study reveal more similarities and instances of dissemination of good practice and ideas, or, conversely, the persistence of original models and practices specific to regional and national norms?
The discussions would also facilitate an analysis of the evolution of the jobs in the field of equestrian activities, particularly the training of professionals involved in the various equine pursuits, such as teachers and instructors. Has the evolution of the training of professionals followed a traditional route or have changes been instigated in response to the changing nature of the riding businesses/ activities, which we have seen develop from a traditionally military, aristocratic or elitist pursuit to one that, in the modern age, has become open to everyone. More specifically, an analysis will be conducted into any continuity and change in the elements of education provided by the riding schools, through a cross-national comparison with those countries endowed with a national riding school (e.g. France, Spain, Austria), with countries that are in the process of establishing one (e.g. Morocco) and ones where such an institution does not currently exist.
Finally, we plan to identify and analyse the socio-economic effects of the increase of horse riding businesses upon local communities, by studying not only the locations that have traditionally been identified with and represented by the horse-riding world (e.g. Deauville, La Baule, Saumur, Badminton, Cirencester, Lexington, Jerez, Rabat) but also the newly developing areas just starting out in that direction. In this context, we will study the influence of horse riding upon the various public policies and private initiatives by analysing their
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respective aims and resources – using riding as a regional resource. We will be asking how, using an international perspective, the social and economic characteristics and representative bodies of the various areas combine with the history of the local horse riding practices?
It is proposed to analyse 3 areas :
I. The stakeholders in and consumers of equestrian tourism and leisure (the image of the horse and equestrian businesses )
• Do we observe a global increase in the development of equestrian tourism and leisure?
What are the local specificities and global trends which determine this increase ?
• Modalities of businesses, means of access and social profiles. How the different social histories of equestrian businesses contribute to the heterogeneity of the equestrian field? Can we observe important specificities in function within individual countries?
• What are the global opportunities in this context?
• What are the influences that both public and private stakeholders have on the development of business models?
II. Evolution of the professional formations and jobs, in the sphere of education and teaching in equestrian leisure
• The development, evolution and practices in the field of equestrian education and jobs from the 19th century to the present day.
• The progress and dynamics of the various professional organisations worldwide.
• What is the effect of the recent changes in the public degrees in France and elsewhere in the world? What will be their effect on the structure of businesses and on job opportunities?
III. Horse and equestrian businesses: catalysts for social and economic development for communities?
• How the different factors surrounding the image of the horse and equestrian businesses help to stimulate local development ?
• In respect of local development, what are the relevant factors and conditions that stimulate local authority involvement with equestrian businesses?
• In what ways do private initiatives contribute to the development of tourism and other economies within the communities?
• Can we observe the emergence of international models in respect of equestrian businesses or do national characteristics and requirements still predominate?
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Organization of the symposium
The proposals can be in written in French or in English and must be sent as Word or RTF document, to the following address : sylvine.chevalier@univ-angers.fr and colloque.saumur@ifce.fr
The proposals should comprise :
- The name of the author(s), his/her/their professional situation; his/her/their institution, university or company;
- The title of the proposal;
- Five key words ;
- An abstract of maximum 500 words, presenting the problematic and the stakes of the communication, the methodology and the results expected
All submissions must be received no later than 15th of october, 2011; the decision of the Scientific Committee will be sent to the contributors by 15th December 2011.
Scientific committee
Duhamel Philippe, Professeur des Universités, geographer, ITBS, Université d’Angers Gouguet Jean-Jacques, Phd, Maître de Conférences, Économie et Sciences économiques et chercheur au CDES-OMIJ à la faculté de Limoges Université de Limoges et au Centre de Droit et d'Économie du Sport
Guibert Christophe, Phd, Maître de Conférences, sociology, ITBS, Université d’Angers James Joy, Phd, Appalachian State University.
Pickel-Chevalier Sylvine, Phd, Maître de Conférences, geographer, ITBS, Université d’Angers
Valade Gilles, Thompson Rivers University, Bristish Columbia, Canada
Vial-Pion Céline, Ingénieur de recherche de l’Institut du Cheval et de l’Equitation Violier Philippe, Professeur des Universités, geographer, ITBS, Université d’Angers Weddell Melissa, Phd, Appalachian State University
Organization :
Co-direction :
Doaré Sylvie, Chef du département diffusion du service diffusion de l’IFCE
Pickel-Chevalier Sylvine, PhD Maître de Conférences, geographer, ITBS, Université d’Angers
Commitee :
Blondeau Charlotte, Chargée de projet tourisme équestre
Duhamel Philippe, Professeur des Universités, géographer, ITBS, Université d’Angers Guibert Christophe, Maître de Conférences, sociology, ITBS, Université d’Angers Leclerc Eric, Directeur de la formation IFCE ;
Rizo Sylvie, Déléguée nationale des chevaux de loisirs
Violier Philippe, Professeur des Universités, géographer, ITBS, Université d’Angers
The symposium will be organized at IFCE Département Equitation, 49411 Saumur Cedex, France
