Thoughts on riding being allowed with November lockdown

[teapot]

WTF? That's a bit vague, but surely "stables and riding centres" can potentially mean any yard, not just riding schools? You can't just shut them, as animal welfare demands that horses are cared for. If I was in England, I would be losing my sh*t.

Indoor and outdoor leisure facilities/businesses, ie those providing tuition etc. Fairly sure livery yards don't come under leisure.

Also shut means in terms of business, not welfare. Even this shitshow of a Government isn't that stupid to tell yard staff to go home and stay home. More fool any yard manager who does.

 

[teddypops]

WTF? That's a bit vague, but surely "stables and riding centres" can potentially mean any yard, not just riding schools? You can't just shut them, as animal welfare demands that horses are cared for. If I was in England, I would be losing my sh*t.

You have always been allowed to look after your horses.

 

[fabbydo]

If the government believes it is safe for me to spend all day crammed into a classroom with up to 30 different households, with no social distancing, then I'm sure I'm fine to ride.

 

[Bernster]

Urgh so now we’re going to have a very confused period until someone can confirm for sure what they mean by shutting down ‘stables and riding centres’ ?. Obv that doesn’t mean for yard staff and I’m hoping it doesn’t cover livery yards, it’s aimed at riding schools giving lesson to the public. Still crap ofc, but the whole situation is generally crappy.

 

[Surbie]

I think owners/loaners/sharers will be fine subject to any crazed yard manages; it's us centre clients that'll suffer again

ETS: riding schools are mentioned here, section 4. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-nat...aying-safe-outside-the-home-social-distancing

I guess it depends on what more detail comes out, if any. Personally I would interpret that as meaning commercial centres to close, not yards with private horses/DIY yards.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

I read riding centres as things like riding schools. Surely things like hunting and competitions should stop too?

I rode last lock down the only restriction YO put in place was no hacking, if it ends up her rs can stay open ill probably be allowed to still hack if not ill have to ride in the school which is boring, there was a brilliant thread with exercises for the school which I made use of last time

 

[SpotsandBays]

I rode last lockdown, just tried to avoid situations where I would be more likely to come off (I know it can happen at any time!), I don’t hack anyway, but I avoided jumping and stuck to schooling, polework, and just general plodding around the fields at home. I’ll do the same now, (my jumps are away for winter now anyway!)

 

[fredflop]

As per last lockdown there will be a list of clarifications within the next few days. Jumping up and down and saying I need clarification now isn’t going to help anyone.

 

[Summit]

Why make this a bigger deal than it should be? Restrictions have been made on hospitality and non essential retail.

no one has said you can’t ride your horse or ride your push bike

 

[Sandstone1]

Why make this a bigger deal than it should be? Restrictions have been made on hospitality and non essential retail.

no one has said you can’t ride your horse or ride your push bike

I would have a look at the rules, its quite a lot more than that.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I doubt that catering for horse riders specifically is high on the government's agenda right now, when it comes to dictating every finer point.
You're allowed to exercise so do so but take some sensible precautions. Like I haven't cantered my new horse yet so trying that for the first time might have to wait

 

[Tiddlypom]

Riding in groups such as competitions, fun rides, hunting etc will be banned under this section:-

1. Stay at home
This means you must not leave or be outside of your home except for specific purposes. These include:

to exercise outdoors or visit an outdoor public place - with the people you live with, with your support bubble or, when on your own, with 1 person from another household.

Riding (‘exercise’) alone or with one other, and caring for your horse (‘animal welfare‘) weren’t banned before, and won’t be again, although the BHS muddied the waters last time with its waffly ill thought out ‘guidance taken as gospel’.

Fully agree that it won’t be the time to sort out that nappy youngster, or the horse that keeps bronking you off, but keeping a sensible horse ticking over should be fine.

Be sensible and don’t take the pee.

 

[chocolategirl]

The way I dealt with lockdown last time on my DIY yard was firstly as it was near the end of March, we turned out 24/7 onto winter paddocks and fed hay, I asked that no unnecessary visitors came to the yard, so sharers weren’t permitted, only the owner, but in my case it was because the owner would be there at the same time as the sharer anyway, I asked that people spent as little time as possible on the yard, if they had children with them, they had to stay in the car, and I said no jumping allowed, but raised trotting poles were fine. I asked everyone to wash hands on arrival, and sanitise frequently while on the yard and obviously social distance. I didn’t feel there was much more I could do tbh even though i was petrified of getting covid (asthmatic) and I still am, I’ll probs just do the same thing this time? the only difference being we won’t be turning out 24/7, if I have to do that, I will close my yard for good as It’ll then be costing ME to keep peoples horses and I’ve been subsidising for years already?

 

[Gingerwitch]

The way I dealt with lockdown last time on my DIY yard was firstly as it was near the end of March, we turned out 24/7 onto winter paddocks and fed hay, I asked that no unnecessary visitors came to the yard, so sharers weren’t permitted, only the owner, but in my case it was because the owner would be there at the same time as the sharer anyway, I asked that people spent as little time as possible on the yard, if they had children with them, they had to stay in the car, and I said no jumping allowed, but raised trotting poles were fine. I asked everyone to wash hands on arrival, and sanitise frequently while on the yard and obviously social distance. I didn’t feel there was much more I could do tbh even though i was petrified of getting covid (asthmatic) and I still am, I’ll probs just do the same thing this time? the only difference being we won’t be turning out 24/7, if I have to do that, I will close my yard for good as It’ll then be costing ME to keep peoples horses and I’ve been subsidising for years already?

Please dont assume owners would not pay, you sound like a great yard owner and if you asked me to pay for hay I certainly would. I would not even expect a discount as a multi horse owner as at the end of a day a horse is a horse and still eats. I would also expect to pay a re seeding charge next year as this is unprecedented and were all in this together. Basically I will work with you if you and will work with me.
Good luck x x

 

[Trouper]

I think we have to just wait and see what happens this week. At least this time MPs are going to have a chance to hear and debate things so some detail might change. I think many of us are now better at managing risk and, hopefully, there won't be so much blind panic about it all.
However, it will only be effective if folk follow the rules and, judging from what I have seen on TV pictures, there are still too many mindless idiots out there.

 

[MrsMozartleto]

If I had a steady Eddy then I'd ride at home as my exercise. I'd not have ridden the Dizzy one, unless we'd come a long way in the intervening years, as although I only came off her once one never knew how it was going to go

 

[Wishfilly]

Please dont assume owners would not pay, you sound like a great yard owner and if you asked me to pay for hay I certainly would. I would not even expect a discount as a multi horse owner as at the end of a day a horse is a horse and still eats. I would also expect to pay a re seeding charge next year as this is unprecedented and were all in this together. Basically I will work with you if you and will work with me.
Good luck x x

I agree with this from a personal point of view, and would absolutely pay BUT it is worth bearing in mind that a lot of people are struggling financially right now, and are not able to take on additional unexpected bills. That might be the thing that pushed them over to leaving the yard anyway. I know two owners have left my yard to rent fields this winter instead, due to costs and drops in income, for example.

Obviously yard owners should be able to cover their costs and a conversation should be had, but it is not that simple for everyone!

 

[Muddywellies]

Oooooh no, here we go again. I honestly couldn't bear it last time and if the whole media shaming because you ride your horse starts again, I'll be taking another social media holiday. People seem to take the lockdown rules, turn them on their head and inside out, then shame the rest of us for actually abiding by the rules but going against what others happen to think. If anyone thinks we should stop riding, then we should also stop all DIY, sports, housework, cooking, driving, in fact everything that poses even the slightest risk. Goodness, I know someone who needed surgery as he sliced his hand cutting a melon!! Think I need a brew, tho can I do that without burning myself and ending up in A&E ??

 

[Tiddlypom]

Obviously yard owners should be able to cover their costs and a conversation should be had, but it is not that simple for everyone!

If owners can no longer afford to keep their horses, they may have to sell up. It is what a lot of us have anticipated happening for a while now, despite the crazy mad prices horses were making in the summer.

 

[Wishfilly]

If owners can no longer afford to keep their horses, they may have to sell up. It is what a lot of us have anticipated happening for a while now, despite the crazy mad prices horses were making in the summer.

I agree, but I'm not sure how that helps the yard owner cover their costs?

 

[Tiddlypom]

The yard owner benefits from not having to subsidise owners who can’t afford to keep their horse?

ETA It’s going to be tough, but we’ve all been able to see it coming.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Oooooh no, here we go again. I honestly couldn't bear it last time and if the whole media shaming because you ride your horse starts again, I'll be taking another social media holiday.

Have you read the full thread?

 

[Wishfilly]

The yard owner benefits from not having to subsidise owners who can’t afford to keep their horse?

ETA It’s going to be tough, but we’ve all been able to see it coming.

That's not what I'm suggesting at all. All I was saying is that it's not necessarily a good idea to assume people will be able to cover unexpected bills this winter...

 

[Tiddlypom]

I think we’re agreed? That people may be not able to afford to pay out more?

I’ve carried it on to state that some people won’t be able to continue to own a horse.

 

[Antw23uk]

Just wondering what people think the official advice will be.
I really hope we will be allowed to carry on, but I know last time the advice was not to, because of having an accident, and needing the over stretched NHS.
However, the mental health aspect of last lockdown does seem to have been noted, and horse riding is definitely Very beneficial to mental health.

Get on the pony Finnis .. stop looking for excuses

 

[Spottyappy]

Get on the pony Finnis .. stop looking for excuses

When you getting your arse over to ride the chestnut ponyyyyy then?!

 

[Goldenstar]

I am so glad I have mine at home .
the worry must be awful .

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I am so glad I have mine at home .
the worry must be awful .

Me too, especially if some YO's banned owners last time but it does seem that some people are prone to panicking. Nothing will change until Thursday, so there is time to find out what your yard will do. There will certainly be no need to compromise on animal welfare.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I think it was easier to not ride last time. Being summer and dry ground so lots could be turned out. I imagine a lot of horses are now spending far more time indoors and will need exercising. Its not going to be so easy this time to just give them a break for some people.
I carried on riding last time, but I rode my old reliable horse not the more difficult one.
The horse I have now I’d be happy to continue as we are. Hacking round, I know which routes do jazz him up so will be a bit more careful.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I did not ride during the first lockdown or visit the yard much but my pony was on box rest at the time for a suspensory injury and his care was done by the yard - he was only able to be ridden in walk which I had been doing and so instead of that he dud exercise on the walker. By the time he was trotting we were out of lockdown but we have a water treadmill on the yard and he can trot on that.

This time round is very different - he needs to be in work and kept fit he needs to canter and that needs a rider - lots of lunging is not good for his leg as it circles. I can pay a member of the yard staff to ride three days a week but the days she does not work there is is no-one available who is small enough to ride. I will wait and see what YO says and if I can be given some slots to come on the days that the rider is not working.

That kind of situation would have driven me insane. If my horse was rehabbing an injury I would want to be the one doing the work and checking the leg every day.
I could perhaps, unwillingly let someone temporarily take over the care of a healthy horse but not in this situation.
I felt so bad for liveries last time