An estimated 20,000 horse-lovers, many accompanied by their animals, marched through Paris on Sunday to protest over tax increases imposed on riding stables, reports The Times.
The demonstration, which ended at the Bastille, came amid a wave of protests in France over a slew of new taxes introduced by President Hollande’s administration as it struggles to bring the deficit under control.
Protesters say the rise in VAT from seven per cent to 20 per cent will put 2,000 of the country’s 7,000 stables out of business. The French Riding Federation says 6,000 jobs will be lost in the sector and 80,000 horses will be slaughtered as a result of the higher VAT.
“No rural business could resist a 13 per cent VAT rise in the current economic context,” said the federation, adding: “Riding is a sport but also a very strong cultural bond for the French whose history is linked to the horse.”
Read more of this report from The Times.