The UK Prime Minister and Scotland’s First Minister have outlined their plans for the taking England and Scotland out of the current ‘stay at home’ restriction. Both leaders have given indicative timeframes, which give the equestrian sector a guide for when activity can resume, businesses can open and competitions can recommence.
While certain details around the easing of restrictions and how they affect the equestrian industry are still awaiting for clarification, below is British Equestrian’s current understanding of the situation.
England
The key dates and headlines are:
Step One – part A: from 8 March
- Two people can meet outdoors to socialise
- All schools return
Step One – part B: from 29 March
- Six people or two households can meet outdoors
- Outdoor sports facilities to open and organised sport allowed
- Travel outside local area allowed
Step Two: from 12 April
- Non-essential retail can open
- Outdoor hospitality is permitted
- Self-contained accommodation hire permitted
Step Three: from 17 May
- Many social contact restrictions lifted outdoors
- Six people or two households can meet indoors
- Indoor hospitality and hotels open
Step Four: from 21 June
- All legal limits on social contact removed
This would indicate that those equestrian centres and other businesses who are education or training providers could start one-to-one sessions from 8 March, while most other activity – sport or leisure – can resume from 29 March. Our member bodies are working on various ‘return to play’ plans for release in the coming days with specific details for their sectors and stakeholder groups.
