Am I allowed out to look after my horse?

[RingGirl]

I know that looking after livestock wasn’t included in the list of things that we’re allowed to do, but it must be considered to be essential. She’s on DIY livery at a small private yard (which doesn’t offer any other type of livery), so it’s either we look after her or nobody looks after her.

I am obviously going to go and see to her anyway as I don’t have another option. I’m just wondering whether I’m likely to get reprimanded if I’m stopped on the way.

I’m sure there are lots of other people in a similar situation but I couldn’t see another thread on it. Apologies if there is one!

Yes they've said that caring for animals is included x

Just go and look after her, avoid others at the yarn by possibly having a timetable so theres only one person at once.
I'll be going to look after my livestock

Thanks @alwaysneedgin, I must have missed that!

Dramas here about this too. It looks like guidance is basically:

• If you're sole carer - yes, go do them

• Staffed livery yards - grooms can still work and can take care of horses there.

• In between yards - have a plan in case you're ill or self isolating but otherwise work as a team to come up with a rota or mechanism for covering all care and no more than two owners there at a time.

Our yard manager is creating a plan for third option. I am keeping my horse's passport in my car in case I am stopped, only going once a day and taking DDog so I don't have to leave the house more than that once.

Yes. I have a small DIY yard and have set up a few rules, such as always wearing gloves, keeping a distance and coming at different times if possible. I’ve put soap by the yard tap and will hibiscrub all door handles, locks and gates etc daily. We’ve limited contact to one carer per horse, no sharers or family for now, and asked for limited access for vets and farriers as much as possible.

You have to remember that while your horse obviously needs care, the yard may well be part of someone’s home and you should not spend any more time there than you absolutely have to.

Oh and everyone has their horse’s feed etc in their individual feed rooms so we all know what each other’s horses have in case of illness.

We still riding out in pairs within the same family isolation group. Shorter rides. We are in France. So far no issues but we have our paperwork authorization on us.

www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/coronavirus-horse-riding-equestrian-businesses-grooms-riders-710146?fbclid=IwAR2gI9_n2m8sbIZ5ihsen74obpwuNrY6u792k0wmgXeqQ3KAGdCjHp6wzr4