Can I ride my horse while in isolation?
level 3
- Horse riding (away from private land) is a recreational activity and allowed under Alert Level 3. The key messages are, keep it low risk, remain within your current abilities and don’t pick up new activities or discipline.
- You can travel within your region, and across a regional boundary if it is in your local area. Travel to your nearest park or beach, not your favourite one. And if you don’t usually take your horse to the beach now is not the time to expose yourself or your horse to any risk.
- It is important that you ride in a local area, which you can do safely, and which does not involve interacting with other people from outside your bubble, or equipment touched by other people.
- Now is not the time to take up new activities, or expose yourself to any risk that would put pressure on emergency services in case of an accident. The key messages are to use your common sense, stay local and stay safe.
- Group activities with anyone outside your bubble are not allowed.
Level 4
Yes, if it’s on your property and you stay within your property. However, we don’t recommend this as horse riding is a high-risk activity and remember that emergency and medical services will already be stretched. Perhaps just stick to caring for your horse, grooming, groundwork instead while we are in this period of lockdown.
If you have your horse on a property that is not yours, then you can only ride within that property – with the landowner’s permission of course. Again, not riding at all is preferable due to the risk involved.
Can I take my horse in the float to the beach etc to ride it?
level 3
You can travel within your region, and across a regional boundary if it is in your local area. Travel to your nearest park or beach, not your favourite one. And if you don’t usually take your horse to the beach now is not the time to expose yourself or your horse to any risk.
Level 4
No, definitely not. You can only travel your horse by float or truck if it requires veterinary attention. You also cannot ride your horse to any public place, you must stay only on your own property.
What are rules around accessing grazing during the lockdown?
level 3
Travel to care for your horse/s, is allowed. Horse owners who had previously had their horses cared for by the owner of the stables or grazing facility under Level 4 restrictions are able to visit their horses under Level 3 restrictions. However, all necessary health measures will need to be followed such as:
- Wash hands before and after.
- Physical distancing of two metres.
- Use own grooming kit, tack and equipment.
- Set up a roster or facebook group if there are others who access the same grazing.
- Limit visits to what is essential.
- Only ride within that property with the landowner’s permission.
Level 4
Travel to look after animals is allowed, as long as you take the necessary health measures, and comply with any region-specific travel measures. This means that, firstly, the landowner must agree to you coming onto their property (some may offer full agistment, so you don’t have to go there). Then you must not go at the same time as other users that also graze there. Ensure that you wash your hands thoroughly before and after visiting your horse/s and only do the minimum – ie feed and muck out. Keep your visits as brief as possible. Set up a roster system (ie on a FB group) to ensure you are all there at different times to each other. Make sure you use your own grooming kit, tack and other equipment.
What if my horse requires a vet?
Level 3
If you are not sick with COVID-19 or another communicable disease like the flu or a cold, call your veterinarian to discuss whether your animal needs veterinary attention.
If you are sick with COVID-19 or another disease, you should stay at home and minimise contact with others until you are well. Any non-urgent pet appointments should be rescheduled.
If your animal’s situation is urgent and you have COVID-19, or suspect you might, call your veterinarian to determine how to best ensure your pet or service animal can be appropriately cared for while minimizing risks of transmitting COVID-19 to other people.
Do not take your animal to a veterinary clinic until you have contacted your veterinarian.
Level 4
Veterinary and animal health/welfare services are classes as essential services. But this does not mean routine vaccinations, dentals, etc, unless these are absolutely vital. Try and limit any veterinary attention to emergency only.
My horse will require the farrier in two weeks, is this allowable?
Level 3
Farriers can operate under Alert Level 3, as long as public health measures are taken to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission. During Alert Level 3, everyone should strive for social distancing of 1 metre.
Level 4
The New Zealand Farriers Association have advised their members that farriers have now been added to the essential services list where their work is essential for animal welfare.
This does not mean farriers are able to commence routine work. The majority of their work can be postponed during the lockdown without compromising animal health. However, if the treatment is considered essential to maintain the welfare of the animal during the lockdown period, then a farrier should be called.
Horse owners are now able to contact their farrier directly if they require emergency hoof care or their horse has a pre-existing condition that, if not shod on the usual cycle, will cause detriment to the welfare of the horse.
Farriers should use their discretion with each individual client and their horses as to what constitutes an emergency or an essential service while we are at Alert Level 4. During treatment, both parties must practice social distancing & good hygiene to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
How long does ESNZ intend to cancel events for?
As of 18th March 2020 all ESNZ events in Jumping, Dressage and Para-equestrian, Eventing and Endurance are cancelled for a three-month period effective immediately. This will be reviewed inline with Government guidelines and directives.
If the virus is contained and the restrictions lifted, then ESNZ will review the situation and communicate any decision.
Can I get a refund on my ESNZ Registration?
As we are almost at the end of the season, there will be no refunds at this time.
I have received a renewal for my registrations, why should I renew it if all events are cancelled for the next three months?
Please see our registration renewal policy for further information on this at the following link:
https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/ESNZ-membership-renewal-policy-2018.pdf
Our advice is to carry on as normal in terms of registrations, rather than leaving it until things get back up and running to avoid a delay or backlog in processing.
Can I get a refund on my entries, stabling etc for the shows I had entered prior to the announcement?
OCs will need to decide whether they refund entry/ride fees should they decide not to hold their event. Riders are urged to be patient while the OCs work though this process with their committees.
How can I keep up to date with what shows have being cancelled / postponed?
We have set up a dedicated page on our website for all our updates on Covid-19.
You can find the page at on the following link: https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/coronavirus-updates/
How can I keep up to date with what official seminars have been cancelled or postponed?
We have set up a dedicated page on our website for all our updates on Covid-19.
You can find the page at on the following link: https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/coronavirus-updates/
What if I have booked and paid for flights and accommodation to attend an officials seminar which has now been cancelled?
For those officials that have booked travel and accommodation for the above courses, please note the following.
If the course has been postponed, please contact your airline and accommodation provider to see about moving your booking to an alternative date.
If the course has been cancelled indefinitely or changed to different location and you are unable to get a refund, then ESNZ may be able to assist you by putting in a claim with our insurers. Flights and accommodation must have been booked prior to the 2 March 2020 and confirmation of booking is required to make a claim. Please email Emma for more information or to make a claim emma@nzequestrian.org.nz
Can I still purchase equipment or gear for my horse?
Level 3
Pet stores can fill online and phone orders, but the stores themselves must remain closed to the public.
Online sales for delivery of animal food and other essential products may continue. Any fulfilment centre must observe social distancing practices. Pick-ups and deliveries must be contactless. Where essential items cannot be shipped (bulky/perishable), the customer may pick up, but only by pre-arrangement and without human contact.
Veterinary practices and services within pet retail outlets follow the same requirements as veterinarians.
Pet retail outlets need to have provisions in place for staff to safely attend to any animals in store.
Level 4
Saddlery retailers are not considered essential, so these won’t be open over the lockdown period. Most Trademe account holders will still be trading however, so you can possibly purchase things you need via this method – but keep it to essential items only as the postal and courier services will already be very stretched at this time.
Can my horse catch coronavirus?
There remains no evidence that domestic animals (pets or livestock) can get or spread COVID-19 and routine testing of animals for COVID-19 is not justified.
However, it’s good practice to wash your hands before and after interacting with animals.
International advice is that, as a precautionary measure, people sick with COVID-19 should avoid contact with pets and other animals, as they would with people.
Where there is COVID-19 in a household, it is recommended that animals are not moved off the property.
Do ESNZ have any qualifications or activities that can be completed without other human contact?
Yes! ESNZ has a Coach program that anyone can sign up for. The Coach levels have three workbooks each – Equine Management, Riding and Coaching (and the first two can be done alone, you don’t have to coach) – and each has theory and practical components. The theory is done via writeable pdf whereby you read each workbook and answer the questions at the end of each section. These are then marked remotely via email, from one of our Coach Educators.
Are there any other horsey things I can easily do?
Yes!
You can clean your tack (if it’s at your own home); you can clean your float (again, only if at your own home). Horses still need mucking out and some attention – depending on whether you keep them at home or not, they won’t be too bothered if they don’t get attention either.