MULLINGAR Equestrian Centre’s Robert Fagan urged all sectors of the sport horse industry to work together to ensure the industry overcomes the threat of Covid-19.

Keeping busy with some new capital projects under way at the flagship equestrian centre, the Co Westmeath man emphasised the need for all sectors to work together to ensure the Irish equestrian industry gets back on track as soon as possible.

“We are keeping busy with some new building projects in hand at Mullingar including a new shower block and new seating around the pavillion area. We have been sprucing the place up with power-washing so that when things open up again, we are ready to go. It’s week by week. We are remaining positive. The riding school ponies are on their third week out enjoying themselves,” said Robert Fagan.

Mullingar International Show, scheduled to take place from May 29th-June 1st, hangs in the balance and possibly, a national show may be able to go ahead.

“We will have to wait and see. We are not making any decisions on the show yet, we’ll see where we are after April 19th. We are hopeful that a national show could go ahead then and we hope to get a date for the international show later in the year from the FEI,” said Fagan who added: “I think the Government and the HSE are doing a wonderful job.”

Cogs in the wheel

With up to 90% of the competitions, across all disciplines in the sport horse sector, taking place in equestrian centres nationwide, Robert urged all sectors of the industry to work together.

“We are all cogs in the wheels of the sport horse sector and we must work together to ensure our industry carries on. We all have a role to play in keeping our industry going. We will be ready to go as soon as possible. We also are looking at ways to ensure social distancing at forthcoming shows – such as timed slots – which we have done before and it has worked very successfully. There is a range of measure we could do across schooling, show jumping, dressage and eventing as well as riding club activities,” he added.