The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) has launched a £2 million Emergency Drought Grant programme, offering £2,000 grants to eligible farm owners and tenant farmers experiencing significant financial pressure as a result of the current drought conditions across England and Wales.
The grants are intended to help with personal and household living costs, rather than farm or business expenditure. RABI says the funding recognises the additional financial pressure created by prolonged dry weather, including increased livestock costs, reduced grazing, additional feed requirements, restricted irrigation and lower or earlier crop yields.
Could equestrian businesses benefit?
While the scheme is specifically aimed at farm owners and tenant farmers actively operating a farming business, it may be relevant to some people operating equestrian businesses.
In particular, owners of equestrian businesses based on eligible agricultural properties, or those operating an equestrian enterprise as part of a mixed farming business, may wish to investigate whether their wider farming business meets RABI’s eligibility requirements.
Eligibility is not simply based on owning agricultural land or running an equestrian business. RABI requires applicants to be actively operating an eligible farming business, with the principal farming business located within an officially designated drought area. Applicants must also demonstrate significant personal or household financial pressure linked to the drought.
This could therefore be particularly relevant to rural businesses where equestrian activities form part of a wider agricultural operation. However, equestrian business owners should check directly with RABI rather than assume they qualify, as the grant’s eligibility criteria are based on the farming business rather than simply the nature of the property or the fact that horses are kept there.
Applications open in September
The £2 million fund will be distributed through five regional application phases, with up to £400,000 available in each region. Applications open from 7 September 2026, with the relevant date depending on the location of the principal farming business. Funding is limited and individual regional phases may close early if the available allocation is committed.
The grant is limited to one £2,000 payment per eligible farming business and must be paid into the applicant’s personal bank account. It cannot be used for farm or business running costs.
Applicants will need to provide evidence of their connection to and operation of the farming business, such as recent farm business accounts or a recent farm business bank statement, with the applicant named on the document.
For equestrian businesses operating from agricultural holdings or alongside farming enterprises, it is therefore worth checking whether the wider business meets RABI’s definition of an eligible farming business.
RABI’s 24-hour helpline is available on 0800 188 4444 for anyone who needs help establishing whether they may be eligible or who requires assistance with an application.
Check the full RABI Emergency Drought Grant guidance and eligibility criteria