Delight and frustration as sport allowed to start

Law made public three days before the restart had an unexpected omission on indoor arenas

- ELEANOR JONES and LUCY ELDER

RIDERS are celebrating as the easing of England’s lockdown spells the restart of organised equestrian sport, but frustration remains over a late Government change to rules on indoor arenas.

Competition and training, as well as lessons at riding schools, were allowed to resume on Monday (29 March), following months of lockdown. But the related legislation, under which indoor arenas are in the main not allowed to be used, was only released on Friday (26 March).

There was confusion last year as indoor arenas were not allowed to open despite the fact they are far more ventilated and larger than other permitted businesses.

Defra and the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) finally agreed such facilities could be used from 4 July. At the time, British Equestrian (BEF) acting CEO Iain Graham said the BEF and others had “gone to great lengths to explain the nature of equestrian indoor schools and today we finally made the breakthrough”.

Guidance that applied for the rest of the year stated that indoor schools counted as outdoor in the rules, and so could be used.

A BEF spokesman said on 26 March: “This wording was introduced into the legislation, and equestrian activity and sport was able to resume under strict Covid protocols to ensure the safety of all participants. The wording has been removed from the legislation published today.