Coping With Covid-19

The coronavirus pandemic is already decimating sport at every level. Andrea Oakes assesses the escalating damage and how the British horse industry would cope under a lockdown

- Andrea Oakes

With Europe now the epicentre of the global coronavirus pandemic, we are all dealing with considerable disruption to our everyday lives. As neighbouring countries close their schools, cancel mass gatherings and impose lockdowns in an attempt to combat Covid-19, here in the UK we face increasingly stringent measures to help delay its spread.

What might this mean for equestrian sport? International classes across the equestrian disciplines have already been cancelled, on the recommendation of the FEI, and national classes are following suit this week, but will there be prolonged disruption at local level?

“We have contingency plans for different options and will be ready to act on the government’s advice,” says Winnie Murphy, who manages communications for British Dressage (BD) and the British Equestrian Federation. “The average dressage show is not a mass spectator event, as tests are spread out across the day. Our venues include equine and agricultural colleges and universities, however. If they close, the decision may be made for us.”

Moving or postponing a larger event such as April’s BD winter championships is no easy task, as Winnie points out.

“The winters take place over five days, involve 900 tests and require three arenas along with stabling and infrastructure,” she explains. “The show is pretty much a 360-day organisational job. You can’t just pick it up and put it down somewhere else.”

Outdoor events involving more than 500 people were banned in Ireland and Scotland last week and all of Britain’s race meetings have taken place “behind closed doors” since Tuesday. Might this be an option for our spring calendar blockbusters?