Training during lockdown

[MissTyc]

Last lockdown, we decided not to ride and my entire yard didn't ride for 10 weeks.
This time, we're going to ride to keep horses ticking over. We have no school, so that means hacking only, which is fine by me.
A few people are still planning on visiting trainers for 1-2-1 lessons. I am worried that this isn't really in the spirit of the lockdown guidelines, but equally I can understand why people want to keep on training. In our situation, this is also the only opportunity for using a school. We have to use a very busy B road to get the bridleway, so I know that one of the sharper horses that isn't traffic safe doesn't get out much if the owner can't box up to hire an arena (maybe not the right yard for this horse but in every other way, it is!) ...

No real purpose to this post; I am just interested in what everyone is thinking / planning / etc!

Feeling quite miserable about the whole year, like many others!

 

[HashRouge]

I think the risk with 1-2-1 lessons has to be pretty small, so unless there is some clarification of the rules to say that these cannot continue I can understand people wanting to get out and about. I'm not quite sure what I'd do if it was me though - as you say, it doesn't feel quite in the spirit of the guidelines!

 

[milliepops]

I am hoping that I might have played a blinder by moving to my trainer's yard in August.

He was doing 1:1 lessons during the last lockdown but my previous YO wouldn't let him on the yard so that was that, we couldn't box anywhere to meet at a "neutral" site so I just rode at home by myself.

I think as I'm not going anywhere and neither is he, hopefully that will be permitted and it's def within the rules IMO. they have closed to clients coming from outside.

i think in your situation it will depend on whether arenas for hire remain open or not. i think some of the details are a bit fuzzy still but it sounds like it might be more likely than in the first lockdown, as the rules around meeting one other person for exercise are different this time.

 

[MissTyc]

mp, I would definitely have lessons on the yard if we had a school or trainer, so that's a good way to think about it. The added risk on my yard is the travelling bit, I suppose.

Most of the trainers around here have their own facilities, so clients box in to meet them on their own yard. I think most hiring arenas have already announced closures, except for a few waiting for more clarifications from regulating bodies.

I have personally been very rule and spirit of rule abiding, and I have to admit this is the first time I'm starting to feel a touch of rebellion and childishness creeping in. I also feel desperately sorry for the trainers who look at having their income slashed again having only just survived the summer.

 

[j1ffy]

My yard shut down in the last lockdown, but plans to allow us to come and ride this time around. I think the rule that you can do outdoor exercise with one person from a different household makes a big difference - it means we can have 1-2-1 lessons and hack with one other.

The travel piece is tricky though, as I think we're not supposed to make non-essential journeys. Having said that I would like to run my lorry in a couple of weeks as the battery doesn't enjoy the cold! I think ultimately you need to do what feels right for you and is best for your horse. I doubt the guidelines will cover every scenario.

 

[Maesto's Girl]

I rode all the way through the last one - but I am lucky in that I do have a lovely arena to ride in. I am hoping 1-2-1 lessons can continue as I have just started with a new trainer and we are really making progress! Regardless - I'll be continuing to train this time - only I won't be pushing the jumping. To get my mare comfortable at a slightly higher height, she'll be on the lunge purely for not wanting to risk injury

 

[MissTyc]

I've never really missed not having an arena as winter riding is time-limited for me anyway (we also have no electricity), but since working from home I am saving so much commuting time that suddenly winter riding is on my radar in a totally different way ... I have three external lessons booked (1-2-1) but I thought I had to cancel, but I also feel so bad for the instructors ... Oh, morality and decision-making!

 

[AmyMay]

Is it essential travel? ?

 

[Austen123]

i am hoping to continue 1-2-1 lessons at my trainer's yard. yard is only a 20-30min drive away and although it says essential travel only, it also says you can make a short journey to exercise.

 

[scats]

I assumed we couldn’t do non-essential travel? So no, I’m planning on simply training at home.

 

[Tiddlypom]

.

i am hoping to continue 1-2-1 lessons at my trainer's yard. yard is only a 20-30min drive away and although it says essential travel only, it also says you can make a short journey to exercise.

A 20-30 min trip with a horse is not a short journey, though. That gets into taking the pee territory.

 

[Austen123]

.
A 20-30 min trip with a horse is not a short journey, though. That gets into taking the pee territory.

I am also waiting for BHS, BS etc or similar to make an announcement so will definitely be listening to their guidelines and if they say it's not permitted, then i definitely will just train at home until lockdown ends

 

[Roxylola]

Travel is permitted for work if you cant work from home, so your trainer could come to you. Equally education is allowed to continue, or lessons if its work related. Equally, you could perhaps make the argument that you're travelling to allow your trainer to work from home.
I dont have that many lessons anyway - one a month is usually all I can do so it may not affect me anyway. However, our arena is deep when its wet so I'll likely just be hacking if we cant go anywhere

 

[Nicnac]

Travel is permitted for exercise so therefore taking your horse for exercise falls under permitted travel. I didn't ride much last lockdown. I have been office based throughout due to the nature of my business. I will be boxing 5 minutes up the road to hack out at the weekend as I don't hack on the roads and horse is currently being rehabbed. I will not be meeting anyone. If my horse is back on track my trainer will be coming to my yard to give me a lesson. I won't be doing any clinics nor travelling to a trainer's yard.

 

[QuantockHills]

if we're not allowed to mix with anyone from outside your household, either indoors or outdoors, then i don't see how travelling to your trainers place, or them travelling to you is allowed at all?

 

[MissTyc]

if we're not allowed to mix with anyone from outside your household, either indoors or outdoors, then i don't see how travelling to your trainers place, or them travelling to you is allowed at all?

Two people from different households can meet outside for exercise ...

& travel is permitted for exercise.

I find it quite confusing. I kinda wish my lessons had just been cancelled for me.

Or that we had a school to ride in like in summer when it drains better. It's tricky in winter on the roads with sharper mare, although hopefully there will be less traffic anyway.

 

[Nicnac]

if we're not allowed to mix with anyone from outside your household, either indoors or outdoors, then i don't see how travelling to your trainers place, or them travelling to you is allowed at all?

You are allowed to meet with one other person at a time outdoors but not in a private garden. Not sure where a trainer's yard fits?

 

[Bernster]

I read it that you can have a 1:1 with a trainer outdoors, as long as not a ‘public’ riding centre. I won’t box up but I think I will be able to have lessons on the yard at night (It’s quiet then). The travelling to/from the yard is what impacted me last time but I think this time I will travel to the yard to exercise/ride.

its interesting from these threads that most people will be out and about more for various reasons. Im being careful and restrictive about what I do but I don’t think this lock down is quite the same as last time - there are a lot more activities that are continuing.

 

[MissTyc]

Agree, Bernster, very interesting to see all the different experiences and opinions.

Contrary to how I maybe come across, I'm super careful. I'm normally alone on the yard or with the same one other person. I travel alone in my car or horsebox and have refused to even give other horses a lift anywhere since by I'd then inevitably be surrounded by more humans. I have been going to lots of 1-2-1 lessons but I have my own headset for my instructor's bluetooth mic, so we don't really get close at all since she stays in her little judge's hut while I ride in the (outdoor) arena. Have done dressage competition and no more than 3 horses in huge collecting ring and leave as soon as I've done my test so last Sunday with the heavy rain I think the only actual human I saw within a few m was the lady supervising the Q code checkings at the gate (she was opening and closing the gate) ... so despite being busy I've felt really safe. Working from home, not seeing friends, etc! .... For this reason, I guess I can't see how me changing anything would help the situation, EXCEPT it is on my mind that an accident - road or riding - would put additional pressure on emergency services, etc ... Many people took that risk last time. I didn't, but I feel differently now.

 

[oldie48]

I think it's perfectly OK to have lessons on a 1-1 basis if it's on your own yard, travel to look after your horse or hack out. I'm quite high risk and definitely don't want to catch Covid but I have no intention of telling other people what they should or shouldn't do I take the view it's up to me to look after me.

 

[teapot]

Coaches coming to you shouldn't be a problem - they're working and can be done with all the guidance in place.

What's beginning to get my goat is all the fb posts going 'well I still need to take Dobbin to the beach for a gallop, it's only 90mins away'.


Unless there's an education caveat, I won't be riding at all

 

[Goldenstar]

I think I will have my trainer here to train if he’s happy with that .
I am also going to box up the horses for fast work .
I am not going to near anyone and I have to deal with the obese cob I bought so MrGS and I will do that once a week .
My freelancer wants remain working and we will exercise from here together .

 

[milliepops]

looks like it may really depend a lot on where you live. just seen this from BD wales, posted this afternoon

https://www.facebook.com/bdwales/posts/10157862039248230

 

[teapot]

looks like it may really depend a lot on where you live. just seen this from BD wales, posted this afternoon

https://www.facebook.com/bdwales/posts/10157862039248230

Wales will be different to England as they're coming out of their fire break. Thursday onwards is only for England, nowhere else.

 

[milliepops]

Wales will be different to England as they're coming out of their fire break. Thursday onwards is only for England, nowhere else.

yup understood, but figured as there are welsh HHOers in C&T this would be relevant

 

[daffy44]

Its really hard, but personally I am waiting for clarification from BEF and BD before I make any concrete plans. I teach, and I generaly teach at home, but if I am allowed to teach outside 1 to 1 outside I will happily travel to my clients yards to do this, I really want to comply with the rules, but I also really need to keep earning, its a difficult one, but as I said, I wont make a final decision without official guidance, and checking with my insurance company.

 

[sherry90]

I read it as travel to exercise and care for a horse you either own or care for is permirtted. So in theory travel in order to exercise your horse (with one other person outside) is permitted. Therefore 1-2-1 lessons or offsite hacking would be ok as your form of exercise ??‍

 

[fredflop]

My opinion is...

trainer travelling to you for lesson = ok

you travelling to trainer for lesson = bad

 

[Callieann]

My trainer is still coming to train. I am not on livery yard though so no other people about. Hubby is usually there too but won't be there now. So, it will be just 1 to 1 outside

 

[jnb]

I don't have any facilities to school so I can only have a lesson if i travel (to instructors yard, 15-20 min in box, 8 miles but busy road)
I have missed all lockdown plus the last 5 weeks as waiting for new saddle and lorry finally being plated.
I'll happily hack, seems a bit meh though, because I'm not lucky enough to have access to a school I can't be taught. Also my instructor i'd say over 50-60% of her clients are taught at her place. OK if you can hack there, not if you can't.
It's only a month (maybe)....