Charter of Reken

Charter of Reken

Travelling with horses without boundaries

With this charter, we support efforts to abrogate the partly considerable restrictions on outdoor- riding and driving and are committed to ensure that horses do not fall into oblivion by increasing motorization and industrialization.

We, the undersigned of this charter therefore commend

preservation of riding and driving as cultural asset, as well as its promotion and recognition freedom to travel the world with horses, aside from motorized traffic and in accordance with other holiday makers protection and preservation of nature for future generations respectful treatment of horses promotion and recognition of riding and driving as cultural heritage. Outdoor-riding and driving increase our sensitivity towards sustaining our environment promotion of child and youth work: by handling horses people are taught values such as responsibility and respect for all living creatures

We, the undersigned

believe that horses as part of our culture need special protection and care in order to survive in our industrialized world. Their natural needs have to be considered promote riding and driving as an outdoor activity and suggest ecologically compatible horseback-based projects which may be of great importance in economically underdeveloped regions support conservation of historical postal and trade routes as cultural heritage and strive for the opportunity to travel these as in old times, crossing today’s state borders are conscious of the need to protect our environment and are committed to preserving the diversity, uniqueness and beauty of nature, landscape, and wildlife stand up for careful and respectful training and lifelong learning with the goal of harmony between man and horse

We, the undersigned advocate preservation, care and particular appreciation of the horse as well as the fundamental right of man and horse to free access to nature and landscape.

 

 

Initiators

The Long Riders’ Guild (http://www.thelongridersguild.com/LRG.htm)

The Long Riders’ Guild is the first association of long-distance riders in the world. It was founded in 1994 to link men and women of all nations who have travelled more than 1000 miles / 1600 kilometers on one single ride. It aims to further everybody’s freedom, personal individual development and to ensure that our lost knowledge of extensive rides will be available for future generations. An important criterion for the approval of long rides is the prevention of suffering and unnecessary burden on the horses.

Association of non-competitive horseback-riders and drivers in Germany e.V. (VFD) (www.vfdnet.de)

The VFD was founded in 1973 as a non-profit association to prevent a general prohibition of horseback-riding in federal forests. Today it is the second largest equestrian association in Germany. The VFD as the major association for outdoor activities with horses is extensively concerned with the effects of horse keeping, their welfare and horseback-riding / driving on our environment. Member biologists have come to the conclusion that natural horse keeping contributes to the uphold of diversity and the protection of nature by establishing and preserving species-rich pastures and grassland. Furthermore, nature itself as well as man and horses profit from sustaining unsealed paths or renaturizing paved tracks. One of the major issues of training within the VFD is to sensitize riders and drivers for the requirements needed to maintain an ecologically intact environment and to behave respectful and considerate towards other living beings as well as nature itself.

Please find more information about the Charter of Reken including lists for signing, the full text as PDF... at: => www.vfdnet.de/vereinigung-der-freizeitreiter-und-fahrer/vielfalt/reiten/rekener-charta/