ENTIRE equine yards in the UK are already planning to up sticks and move to mainland Europe as they wake up to the very grim reality of trying to move horses into and out of Britain.

With them will go jobs, tax returns, but also an inevitable shrinkage of the historically buoyant trade between Ireland and Britain for horses, ponies, and a huge variety of equestrian goods.

Last week we flagged up the difficulties professional Irish hauliers encountered on dummy runs into and out of the UK. Those who can will avoid the UK altogether in their travels while those whose bread and butter is in Irish-UK trade will have to muddle through as best they can.

This week we heard the nightmarish scenario from riders and producers, both Irish and British, now caught in an seemingly unending paper cascade. The result is horses grounded which in turn is choking the lifeblood of competition and trade right out of their yards.

Brexit is now beginning to drive the wheels of a relocation push out of Britain and into mainland Europe as the scramble for satellite yards begins in earnest.

We would be naive to think that any significant shrinking of the UK equestrian circuit or workable access to it, would not hit home here.

Let’s hope that the empty shelves and disappearing goods off supermarket shelves on our own island, as well as Britain, will serve as very real food for thought for workable solutions to be rapidly found among the powers that be to help keep vital goods and trade flowing.