So horse riding lessons are off?

[Thedarksideofthemoon30]

Such a middle class question,

Will private lessons be off? 🙈

Can't see why 1-1 lessons shouldn't happen, arenas and outdoor schools are low risk, surely and it's exercise.

However, I own a pony I'm currently breaking in and I'll probably stick to groundwork only through this. Don't want a fall then take up a hospital place riding a young and green horse!

Here you go - horses matter as here is latest government advice:

www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home?priority-taxon=774cee22-d896-44c1-a611-e3109cce8eae#sports-and-physical-activity

Sports and physical activity

Indoor gyms and sports facilities will remain closed. Outdoor sports courts, outdoor gyms, golf courses, outdoor swimming pools, archery/driving/shooting ranges and riding arenas must also close. Organised outdoor sport for disabled people is allowed to continue.

My child’s farm riding club is desperate for financial support as closed and may not survive the latest English lockdown 3. It relies purely on riding fees, charitable donations and volunteers. This particular pony club is very much involved in community engagement and particularly the handicapped and socially disadvantaged. It is not a corporate polo club but a community farm. I do not want to out here but I have previously been involved in both donating and fundraising initiatives as a refurbishment of arena was initialed. Not sure what will happen next but equine welfare is naturally paramount. Equestrian pursuits were one former pre pandemic little pleasures of very significant therapeutic value but now not permitted!

They stopped in Wales when our lockdown was announced the week before Christmas. So I expect they will stop in England now too.

Who knows - riding schools won’t be able to say for sure themselves until they get guidance from the BHS.

My daughter’s riding school only offered one to one lessons to those who owned their own horse or paid for one on the loan scheme they run there. Although they weren’t allowed to be called lessons, they were called ‘supervised’ rides. They don’t make any money from one to ones so it wasn’t great for them but at least they could keep some of their customers happy.

During the first lockdown they had to close completely.