Reutlingen Tax Administration Opposes the Introduction of a Horse Tax
A Positive Turn of Events Regarding the Horse Tax in Reutlingen
from Dominique Wehrmann 
Dedicated activists fighting against the horse tax in Reutlingen—on two and four legs.
Photo: FN/Reitharmonie Reutlingen Riding School Arguing that a horse tax for Reutlingen would entail personnel costs that are too high in relation to the revenue generated, the Reutlingen tax authority confirms one of the arguments that other municipalities have also used to refrain from implementing a horse tax or to abolish it.
In March, there was a wave of outrage when the Reutlingen City Council announced its intention to become the first municipality in Baden-Württemberg to introduce a horse tax. Through statements outlining the various arguments against a horse tax, an online petition, and vigils organized by horse lovers of all ages, the affected horse-owning businesses and the local riding club fought back. They were supported in this effort by their Baden-Württemberg association and the FN.
Good news, but it’s too early to breathe a sigh of relief
Now, by rejecting the horse tax, the tax authorities have given horse lovers in Reutlingen cause for hope. However, it’s not yet time to breathe a final sigh of relief, as the Finance Committee and the City Council still need to confirm that the plans are being shelved. And even if that happens now, it doesn’t mean that such a discussion couldn’t resurface if the municipality continues to lack financial resources.
Thomas Ungruhe, who is no longer the head of the “Recreational Sports” department at the FN, but rather “Head of the Equestrian Sports Development Team at Pferdesport Deutschland”—and who, for years, has been successfully convincing one municipality after another, with great dedication, of the negative cost-benefit balance of the horse tax—comments on the development:
“Things are definitely going to remain exciting, and we can only appeal to the members of the city council to speak out in favor of preserving horses and equestrian sports in Reutlingen. The valuable youth programs run by clubs and riding schools, as well as farmers, horse breeders, and equestrian businesses—an entire economic sector would suffer greatly under a horse tax—and all this would come with an enormous administrative burden for the city.”
