Thursday, 12 November 2020
We received an update late on Thursday from Defra and DCMS, via the British Horse Council and British Horse Society, following our combined request for clarification on the recent legislation concerning the national restrictions now in force across England and how they impact on the training in the equestrian community.
The Defra Animal Welfare Team has now confirmed the following:
This update is not what we had hoped because riding schools must close for recreational lessons, and only those who provide formal education or training including training for regulated qualifications such as BHS Stages 2 to 4 may remain open for this sole purpose.
Those riding schools that are required to close are advised to contact their Local Authority for details of the business grants available to them given that they have had to stop trading due to the legislation on national restrictions in England.
Thank you for your patience while this information was confirmed and we will continue to work on your behalf with our member bodies in the best interests for the industry and equine and human welfare.
Here’s a few FAQs to help for those based in England:
You can travel to care for and exercise a horse that you’re responsible for. However, you should limit the number of journeys that you make, and only under take essential travel.
You can meet outdoors with one person from outside your household bubble or linked bubble.
Horses may be ridden for exercise purposes only, including hacking and using a private arena at your yard. If you hack in outdoor public spaces, you may do so with members of your own household or one person from another household for exercise purposes.
You may choose to travel your horse to make use of public open outdoor spaces where horses are permitted, such as common land or a beach, but should only do so if it’s necessary to meeting your horse’s welfare requirements.
Travelling to a venue and paying to ride on the premises, including farm rides, arena hire, cross-country courses and gallops, is not permitted and all venue hire should be suspended for the period of the lockdown. All competition and training activity organised under the auspices of our member bodies has been suspended until 2 December.
At present, British Equestrian doesn’t have clear guidance from government in regards to whether you’re able to travel your horse to your coach’s yard. Therefore, we would not encourage you to do so. If you can justify your travel within the restrictions of the legislation and feel you can reasonably answer if stopped and challenged by the authorities, you must make your own decision on taking part.
Livery yards can remain open for horse owners, loaners and sharers to care for and exercise their horse. However, the yard owner or manager may choose to put additional restrictions or public health measures in place for your safety.
Farriers, vets, dentists, physiotherapists, grooms and other equine practitioners can continue to operate, provided that they have COVID protocols and risk assessments in place to maintain safe working conditions. If you’re an equine practitioner and unsure about what you can and can’t do during lockdown, we recommend contacting your profession’s governing body.
Coaches can continue to travel to work where they can’t work from home. Coaching only may take place on a one-to-one basis in public outdoor spaces.
We now have confirmation from Defra that riding centres and schools must close for recreational lessons, and only those that provide formal education including training for regulated qualifications such as BHS Stages 2 to 4 may remain open for this sole purpose.
If you are the owner, loaner or carer of a horse kept on riding centre or school premises, you can continue to visit to care and exercise that horse. However, please be aware that the proprietor may have implemented additional restrictions or public health measures for your safety.
Further details about the national lockdown in England are available here.