Positives

IT’S much easier to find positives in lockdown if you’ve been isolated with your family, not alone, if you have outdoor space, if your income has been unaffected, if you’ve not seen anybody you love struggle as a key worker, and, vitally, if nobody you love has suffered or died with this virus.

We’re seeing a bit of, “It’s all right for them, they still have their desk job,” never mind if they are imprisoned at that desk in a flat with no garden or company. We’re seeing a bit of, “It’s all right for them, they have their horses on their doorstep,” never mind how they’re going to pay for that now. But beyond that, we’re witnessing more kindness, greater perspective, a desire to help others, and incredible fundraising efforts. If we can keep those positives post-lockdown, what a plus. And there are further upsides.

Riders have found pluses in being able to spend more time on training, or helping staff. As events crack on with finding ways to run competitions, the model proven workable in Germany is hopeful. One fence per competitor in the warm-up is an inspired positive that should be maintained well beyond lockdown.

Dressage star Gareth Hughes has even found positives in supermarket one-way systems... (p42).

Following Nick Skelton’s comment (14 May), we continue the debate

(p46) with alternate viewpoints, which illustrate the difficulty in trying to please everyone. That’s not to say improvements can’t be made, and now is a good time to take stock and discuss. With so many on furlough and those who remain being stretched, now may not be the time for implementation. But those who survive now will have the chance to thrive later.