British Breeder Magazine May 2020
Magazine for breeders of British bred sport horses. Includes breeding industry news, updates, interviews, profiles and reports.
Magazine for breeders of British bred sport horses. Includes breeding industry news, updates, interviews, profiles and reports.
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NEWS - COVID UPDATE<br />
Living With Lockdown<br />
How the Equestrian Industry is dealing with the crisis<br />
Along with the rest of the nation, the<br />
equestrian community is learning to live<br />
with ‘lockdown’. Thank goodness that<br />
this extraordinary situation coincided<br />
with an improvement in the weather, and<br />
many of us will be counting ourselves<br />
fortunate that we have space and horses<br />
to help keep us sane.<br />
There has been much uncertainty over<br />
the past 6 weeks, and the initial well<br />
intended advice did nothing to dispel<br />
the fears of many for their businesses<br />
and for equine wellbeing. In such<br />
unprecedented circumstances, human<br />
wellbeing was the priority, saving lives<br />
and supporting the NHS, and action<br />
had to be taken before it was possible to<br />
assess the countless implications for so<br />
many of us in so many walks of life.<br />
But as organisations have explored the<br />
directives and updated their guidelines<br />
to professional members, a more<br />
workable situation is now evolving.<br />
The joint announcement by the Royal<br />
College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)<br />
and the <strong>British</strong> Equine Veterinary<br />
Association (BEVA) on 9 April updating<br />
their guidance and allowing vets to<br />
assess risk on a case by case basis,<br />
came as a lifeline to so many breeders<br />
worried about the care of their mares<br />
46 | BRITISH BREEDER<br />
at this busy foaling time, and for the<br />
essential stud work of inseminating mares<br />
to continue the breeding programme.<br />
The Farriers Registration Council and the<br />
<strong>British</strong> Farriers & Blacksmiths Association<br />
have also provided their members with<br />
guidance to ensure this vital work can<br />
continue.<br />
The <strong>British</strong> Equestrian Trade Association<br />
(BETA) have been excellent, not only<br />
keeping their members updated with the<br />
latest advice and providing information<br />
on financial support but also stepping in<br />
with authority to lobby Government for<br />
businesses to continue to work provided<br />
they comply with current restrictions. The<br />
Government’s Job Retention Scheme has<br />
now opened its online portal to allow<br />
businesses to claim for furloughed staff,<br />
and the business support grant for those<br />
eligible for Small Business Rate Relief<br />
and those in the leisure and hospitality<br />
industry, will help ease the pain for<br />
some.<br />
The <strong>British</strong> Breeding website has a<br />
dedicated COVID-19 page and we<br />
have gathered useful links to the key<br />
organisations giving guidance that is<br />
relevant to our industry. If you have not<br />
already checked out the Government,<br />
veterinary and equestrian governing<br />
body’s advice, this is the place to start.<br />
The page is updated regularly with<br />
any new directives, including a link to<br />
the latest from the <strong>British</strong> Horseracing<br />
Authority, who are at the forefront of<br />
planning the resumption of racing, thus<br />
paving the way for other equestrian<br />
sports.<br />
The message throughout is clearly<br />
that this is not ‘Business as usual’, but<br />
business carried out in line with the latest<br />
government advice to employers and<br />
businesses, is still possible.<br />
As we look forward, it is hard to predict<br />
when the restrictions might be lifted.<br />
The <strong>British</strong> Horseracing Authority are<br />
planning a phased resumption of racing<br />
consistent with any gradual easing of<br />
Government restrictions, and it is safe to<br />
say that if racing can resume, then other<br />
equestrian sports will follow, albeit in a<br />
controlled way. The BEF have released<br />
an update on the work going on behind<br />
the scenes so that, when the day comes,<br />
the equestrian world will be ready to go.<br />
There are many considerations, but we<br />
must all remain committed to adherence<br />
to Government guidelines and keeping<br />
everyone safe.<br />
Rachael Holdsworth