The RPA offers a number of different schemes that farmers can apply for, including the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS). The BPS is a payment that is based on the area of land that a farmer has, while the CSS is a payment that is based on the environmental practices that a farmer carries out.
Horses can be grazed on land that is registered under the RPA schemes, but there are some restrictions that farmers need to be aware of. For example, horses cannot be grazed on land that is designated as an environmentally sensitive area (ESA). ESAs are areas of land that are considered to be important for their natural beauty or wildlife, and they are protected by special regulations.
Farmers who wish to graze horses on land that is registered under the RPA schemes should contact the RPA to find out more about the restrictions that apply.