What do you do when the kids want to drive but social distancing says no?

Leo Walker

Leo Walker

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You drag your fit and feeling VERY well pony in and decide to use her to teach the kids to long rein. They are the kids of the YM. The little boy is my protege and I'm slowly teaching him to drive ready for his pony to be broken later in the year and the little girl is my helper. Fetches and carries for me and tells me off when I do things wrong. They did brilliantly and I'm really proud of them both. I am most proud of my lovely pony though.

I long reined her for a couple of minutes first and she felt very fresh and forward and I wasnt sure how it would all pan out, but my legs wouldnt let me do anymore walking in the deep sand, so off they went. She was a total superstar! They are only 5 and 9yrs old and have never done anything like this before, but she was very kind and gentle with them, and did her best to work out what they wanted even if the signals werent always clear. I am so happy with her and so glad I got to keep her. Shes 6yrs old now and has really come into her own. Shes a little sod for me to drive out, bounces and pings all over the place unless I concentrate on her 100% yet a total novice can drive her with no issues. Shes very smart and with an overdeveloped sense of humour, and a years worth of driving has made her confident and happy with her job



 
The videos are lovely - but there isn't a social distancing question there? We are formaly in isolation - not social distanceing.

As long as neither your journey nor that for the children is over long (we don't have limits on that yet but Ireland anounced 2KM today.) This is your one trip out of the house per day - and theirs. And you stay 2m apart unless absolutely necessary. I can't see why on earth not!
 
There isnt long reining and we were careful with gloves and only the kids harnessing up etc and me constantly shouting about giving me space. But if we had driven the kids would have been in the carriage seat and I'd have been stood behind them on the backstep, so about 3 foot away, and theres times I have to lean forward and grab a rein etc. Too close and too much contact. Long reining has been really good for them both though, and will help the driving as well, so win win :D
 
Sorry - did you disinfect the reins between you and the children? I'm guessing you didnt stay 2m away while passing over the reins? This looks nice but is not appropriate at the moment. Life is not normal.
 
You don't need to pass over the reins with driving kit, you can fold them up and poke them through a loop on the roller and hold the front end.
So how long is Bobbies neck is probably the important question :D
 
When we handed over, one child held the pony at her head, I dropped the reins on the floor about 3 feet behind her and probably 9 feet in total away, the second child then picked them up off the floor when I moved away. Not correct, but she doesnt care and needs must. IT helps that thats standard practice for driving to have someone at the head whilst getting in and out of the carriage etc, so the ponies well used to it. We all had disposable gloves on as well, and as the kids live together theres no issue with them touching.

I had way more trouble getting them to keep their distance when they werent occupied tbh! I've spent most of the time around them, reminding them to treat me like I have killer fleas that want to jump on them. The little girl banged her head at one point and it was heartbreaking not to be able to comfort her while she cried, so her mum was summonsed to make it all ok. Its VERY hard not to hug a crying child :(
 
What about the no gatherings of more than two people unless they are all from the same household rule?


In another thread you say you know that you have been placed on the exceptionally vulnerable list by your doctor and a letter telling you that you will have to isolate for twelve weeks is in the post on its way to you ?


.
 
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Why are you spending time with people outside of your household? Their mother needs to keep them suitably entertained. Well done for being a potential spreader. Things like this where people decide to ignore the rules because it suits them or is easier is why we will end up on total lock down
 
She's said she tried to make them all remember to keep their distance, they wore gloves, didn't get in close contact when handing over reins etc, to me it sounds as if they tried to think of minimising the risks of spreading virus.

Personally, I'm glad for that, it is the ones who doesn't even try to minimise the risks of spreading the virus, that I worry about.

Bobbie seems worth her weight in gold, I can understand how happy she makes you, Leo Walker.
 
YCBM, lets do this one last time. Stop trying to engage with me. I cannot stand you. I find you disingenuous, untrustworthy and just really unpleasant. You have previously behaved in a disgusting way both to me and about me. I have been asking you for the best part of 2 years to stop it. You are on user ignore. Someone had to send me a screenshot, well two actually as I see you're still posting and editing. I find it really creepy that you still insist on following me round trying to get my attention.

Other than that, no rules were broken, as a vulnerable person I am very careful to keep myself and other people safe. There is no way I am spreading anything unless it came from someone at the yard anyway and the same for all parties involved. Thats all the explanation and justifying your gonna get from me I'm afraid.

Isnt my pony just blumming amazing? And arent kids great :D
 
LW, please don't play the injured innocent. When I asked people not to comment about my horses way of going when I shared a 14 second video of him with the forum, you started a whole new thread to try to bring as many people's attention as possible to the fact that you thought he was lame. There is more, but this isn't the place.

This is a public forum and I will respond when I feel appropriate.

Yes, your pony is lovely, but your actions yesterday were foolish, broke the guidelines about more than two people being in the same place, and have put your life at serious risk.

I thought that should be pointed out to discourage others who might be thinking that what you did was OK, and think they should go out and do it as well.

I wish you well with your 12 weeks total isolation, which I assume you will start when your letter tells you to. That isn't something I envy anyone having to do.
 
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CorriegarthJ said:
I think it is a lovely idea but does go against the government advice atm. Also, where are the children’s hats? Not good practice when standing behind horses, regardless of her gentle nature.
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I do agree wih this, it just isn't the time to engage with others and to not wear hats. If she had kicked they really don't want to be going to hospital at the moment.
Yes she is a lovely pony but just for the lock down period, please lock down!
 
I must admit I was worried that the kids werent wearing hard hats, although not my kids so up to their parent. I had to tell my grand daughter yesterday that she couldnt come to the yard to see her pony, I felt awful for saying it but for the protection of everyone else on the yard (we are diy and all coming at different times) and for her and her other family, she lives with her mum during the week, it was the only sensible thing I could do. Im sending her lots of pictures via fb and little updates from her pony about what hes up to (not very much) and am just praying that the lockdown doesnt go on too far into summer
 
No, this is a gathering of more than 2 people, from different households. The last video of the little boy running round, behind a horse, not really in control and without a hat would have made me cringe in normal times, never mind now when we are trying to keep the NHS clear.

I am not in a high risk group but when I had to go to the shop this morning I had gloves on, put on as I exited the car and removed as I got back in. Not met other people since I had my tooth out last Tuesday, and then it was only because it was a genuine necessity.

And yes, you would be right to say I know nothing about driving, but I do have experience with long reining, and was uncomfortable.
 
Sorry but I'm another who agrees with the above comments. Regardless of whether you managed to keep 2m between you, the point is that people are only meant to be interacting when ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, not arranging to meet up and do activities together. This is a perfect example of how some people simply aren't getting the message about ISOLATING.
Here in NZ we are in a fairly strict lockdown and what we're being told is to imagine we are living in "bubbles". Your "bubble" is made up of the people you're living with, and nobody else. The aim is to make sure your household's bubble doesn't overlap or come into contact with someone else's. When you let anybody else into your bubble, that's when the virus gets a chance to spreads. Your bubble may be forced to come very close to someone else's in essential circumstances (you're at the supermarket for example), but you should avoid deliberately putting yourself in that position when it's not necessary. Doing pony handling with other people's children, for example...
The bubble analogy is pretty easy to understand, isn't it. Maybe the UK could adopt a similar metaphor so more people get the message about KEEPING AWAY FROM OTHERS?
 
It seems to me that too many people have a reason not to follow the guidelines, fully validated by and to themselves. I have two friends who live independently several miles apart who are now staying in the home of one of them and will be in their own homes again in a couple of weeks time. I'm aware of two partners, who live and work a couple of hundred miles apart, who have justified to themselves that it's OK for one of them to drive to the other for this weekend and then go home. Yes it's likely that we will be restricted for more than 3 weeks (and this 'I'm going to do my own thing approach' will be one of the reasons) but honestly I don't see why people can't give the 3 weeks a try. We're in an era of easy communication and easily able to stay in touch with friends and family. The restrictions, for 3 weeks in the first instance only, are seriously not a big ask in the lifespan of most people.
 
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I'm a member of the 12 week club . My interpretation is to stay home full stop. As I am at increased risk I can see no valid reason for me to leave the house. Food and prescriptions are delivered, thankfully ex partner ( it's very complicated) can work from home. Horse is on full livery and has all of his needs met and exceeded by my lovely yo. Ex is walking dogs but keeping well away from others , as in crossing the road to avoid .I fully expect to lose my marbles but that's better than losing my life or worse causing others to lose theirs. Can fix my mental health but not my death. We all need to hunker down and get through this sensibly and safely . Please , please , please , everyone stay safe, take care of yourselves.
 
henmother said:
I'm a member of the 12 week club . My interpretation is to stay home full stop. As I am at increased risk I can see no valid reason for me to leave the house. Food and prescriptions are delivered, thankfully ex partner ( it's very complicated) can work from home. Horse is on full livery and has all of his needs met and exceeded by my lovely yo. Ex is walking dogs but keeping well away from others , as in crossing the road to avoid .I fully expect to lose my marbles but that's better than losing my life or worse causing others to lose theirs. Can fix my mental health but not my death. We all need to hunker down and get through this sensibly and safely . Please , please , please , everyone stay safe, take care of yourselves.
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If you can stay at home stuck in with your ex for 12 weeks, we can all self isolate! Good luck with that!!
 
Seriously why are people finding this so hard to understand?! Stay at home unless it is absolutely essential, and if you’re one of the high risk folks stay at home full stop! There are literally no exceptions! You are not special! Yes it is crap, but it’s only going to carry on for longer if you don’t abide by the rules. Quite frankly if the rest of us can bloody manage it so can you!

I’m sorry if this seems harsh, but as someone with an extremely high risk parent I can’t even begin to explain just how infuriating it is to watch people flaunting the rules for trivial reasons. Please just stay home folks.
 
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