While things may seem a bit bleak at the moment due to COVID-19, it’s important to keep in mind that every cloud has a silver lining: This is a great opportunity to make use of your downtime and fit in more horse riding during COVID-19.
COVID-Safe Riding
Almost every aspect of everyday life has been directly impacted by COVID-19; trips to the barn are certainly no different.
In order to properly enjoy riding more during COVID, it is absolutely crucial to first ensure that you will be staying safe and healthy during the entirety of your visit to the barn.
Below are some precautions that you can take in order to stay safe at the barn:
- Maintain a safe distance 6ft from other riders whenever possible
- Limit crosstie use to every other crosstie
- Avoid sharing equipment, tack, and supplies with other riders whenever possible. If you do need to share items, wipe it down with a disinfectant before and after use
- Speak with fellow riders, the barn owner, and your trainer to confirm the time you wish to visit the barn; it’s best to avoid large amounts of people in the barn at once
- Wash or sanitize your hands thoroughly upon entering and exiting the barn
- Try to avoid schooling in the arena with other riders, if possible
Following the above precautions, you can make sure that you are keeping both yourself and your fellow riders safe during your visits.
Making Use Of Downtime
Along with the coronavirus has come a large amount of downtime. What better way to spend your new-found free time than in the saddle?
Make use of the downtime you’ve acquired by paying a visit to your horse. Spend time giving them a thorough, much-needed grooming before tacking up.
Weather permitting, a nice hack out on the trails is a great way to maintain safe distancing from other riders while exploring some new terrain and bonding with your horse.
If you don’t have direct access to trails, a nice workout in the outdoor arena is a great idea, as well.
If you don’t have the option of training in the outdoor arena, consider simply going for a walk with your horse through the paddocks.
This is a great way to spend one-on-one time bonding with your horse, and can even double as a time that you can work with them on behavioral training, as well.
Spend time working on cues and practicing good lead skills, or simply just converse with your horse about the week’s events.
As equestrians, we all know that there is no better listener in the world than a well-loved horse.
The arrival of COVID-19 may have put a bit of a damper on things, but it’s not all bad.
With proper precautions taken, you should have no trouble at all converting your new downtime into productive and enjoyable time spent with your horse.
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