Warning over pandemic rules
Social distancing and other guidelines must be adhered to as it was on this basis equestrianism was allowed to restart
RIDERS must adhere to rules governing post-lockdown events or risk losing their sport in the immediate future.
Governing bodies have reminded competitors that permission was granted for equestrian sports to resume on the basis of detailed plans submitted to the Government.
These included details of social distancing and other protective measures taken to mitigate any spread of the virus and keep all participants as safe as possible.
British Eventing (BE) chief executive Jude Matthews told H&H riders must be responsible.
“We’re so privileged to have got the go-ahead, before some other sports, but the key message is: ‘We have to stick to the rules’,” she said.
“We’re not trying to be draconian or spoil people’s fun; agree or not, the rules are there to keep the sport running.”
BE rules include a limit on the number of people who can attend events, as well as measures such as printing numbers at home and paying start fees online. But Ms Matthews said she has seen social media discussions on how to flout some of the measures.
“People have been saying they’ll smuggle extra people in, or just turn up,” she said. “But we have to be responsible. It is going to be different but we have to do what we can to secure the immediate future of our sport.
“We’re all in this together – don’t break our sport.”
Numbers of people are also limited in other disciplines.
British Showjumping (BS) rules include the fact all entries must be online in advance, and riders are given time slots in which to jump, while entrants are being checked in on the gate. No grooms or helpers are allowed in the warm-up, and a cool-down area must be provided.
BS chief executive Iain
Graham told H&H everyone is encouraged to “take their share of responsibility for ensuring the sport can remain running”.
“It’s taken a bit of work to get it going and convince people we can run safely; we need to remember the virus is still present and we need to do all we can to stop its spread,” he said.
Some of the changes implemented in dressage include the fact there will be no scoreboards, test sheets will be scanned or posted after the event, and riders may be asked to wait in their cars or lorries between tests.
A British Equestrian (BEF) spokesman agreed, saying the successful resumption of sport is a team effort, involving everyone from governing bodies to officials, and from organisers to riders.
“If we want to have a sport at the moment, we have to stick to the guidelines,” she told H&H.
“The approval was given on the basis of the plans submitted, and we all have to play our part to make it work.
“We will be under a microscope, in different areas; environmental health, local authorities, police could turn up. Everyone in the equestrian community has to play their part to make it work.”
“We’re not being draconian”
JUDE MATTHEWS