Take a look at how the shutdown restrictions are being lifted for equestrian activities in other countries

England

Following UK Prime Minister Borris Johnson’s announcement last Sunday, May 10th, British Equestrian and the British Horse Society (BHS) released guidelines for riders in the UK. Riding schools, show centres and livery yards in England re-opened from Wednesday, May 13th, but there is no date for the resumption of competition.

In England only, the government’s relaxation on travel for exercise and call to return to work where you can’t do so from home, means that one-to-one training is now permitted. Coaches can travel to yards for individual face-to-face training in controlled outdoor environments, while riders can also travel to have one-to-one lessons, as long as social distancing is adhered to throughout.

Riders are now permitted to transport horses to a venue for an individual lesson or facility hire outdoors. They may meet with one other from outside their household, which may be a coach or other participant, all with the proviso that the appropriate social distancing and hygiene practices are in place.

Those involved in travelling to or from a venue must all be from the same household. Venues should conduct full risk assessments and ensure that the required public health, hygiene and social distancing measures are implemented effectively.

Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Executive has published a phased five-stage coronavirus recovery plan. The document sets out the approach the Executive will take when deciding how to ease coronavirus restrictions. However as of now, there are no fixed dates for when any single restriction will be lifted. Until such time as the NI five-stage recovery plan is introduced, the current restrictions on travel within Northern Ireland apply.

Horse Sport Ireland is in consultation with Sport Ireland and Sport NI, with the aim that a safe, incremental resumption of equestrian activity is included in the Northern Ireland recovery plan and will issue further details when HSI receives clarity from the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland.

France

May 11th saw the re-opening of equestrian establishments. Young horse classes are returning on May 25th, under the ‘professional agricultural status’ and are open to professional riders only.

For amateur riders and minors under the age of 16, Société Hippique Française (SHF) said they are actively working on a plan to resume competitions before summer.

Belgium

Sports clubs re-opened in Belgium on May 11th, where there can be outdoor training with the presence of a coach and with no more than 20 people. Indoor sports and sporting events are prohibited until June 30th.

The Netherlands

Equestrian activities such as lessons, training courses and outdoor rides have been allowed from May 11th. Competitions may resume from June 1st, according to the KNHS website.

Switzerland

The Government will decide on May 27th about further openings. If approved, sporting competitions could begin on June 8th.

USA

US Equestrian has released its ‘Licensed Competitions COVID-19 Toolkit’ that features the USEF Action Plan, outlining mandatory requirements and recommended best practices for competition organisers and participants as equestrian competitions prepare to resume on June 1st, dependent on federal, state, and local regulations and restrictions.