2 February 2023 - Flipbook - Page 57
HORSEWEEK
FARMWEEK
MAY 28 2020
57
LOCKDOWN DIARY - WEEK NINE
By Bree Rutledge
ANOTHER
week
has
now passed in lockdown,
making this the week nine
instalment of this diary. For
me, like many other horse
owners, the past week has
been a lot more positive
than the previous eight!
The NI Executive’s easing
of the lockdown restrictions
on May 18, which allows
‘outdoor spaces and public
sport amenities to open if
there are no shared hard
surfaces’ and ‘groups of
up to six people who do
not share a household can
meet outdoors maintaining
MAKING A SPLASH: ‘Jewel’ and I enjoyed the well decorated
water complex at the Meadows. (FW22-547NN)
social distancing’, led to
the British Horse Society
putting together guidance
for horse riders and carriage
drivers, stating that we
may travel our horses for
exercise or training to a
BEAUTIFUL:
Left, As we
hacked, we
enjoyed the
beautiful
scenery
around us including this
magnificent
view! (FW22546NN)
suitable outdoor location
AND we may exercise our
horses in a group of up to
six people with whom we
do not share a household
(to include a coach where
relevant). Of course, we are
all required to respect the
social distancing rules and
hygiene measures that we
have become so familiar
with in recent weeks.
This is also a welcome step
forward for coaches, riding
schools, equestrian centres
and livery yards all over the
country, many of whom have
been without an income for
the past eight weeks.
I, for one, was very
keen to get ‘back in the
saddle’ so to speak and
start reverting to my more
normal
equine
routine
- that is, having regular
lessons, going schooling
and
hacking
whenever
possible. The gales at the
end of last week meant I had
HORSEWEEK
to rearrange my planned
schedule somewhat, but I
am absolutely thrilled to
report that I managed to
not only ride ‘Jewel’ at home
in the past week, but I also
went schooling with a small
group of like-minded horse
lovers and out for a lovely,
leisurely hack with a friend!
Just a few days before
lockdown started, I took
‘Jewel’ schooling to the
incredible Arena 3 at the
Meadows (Lurgan), where
we made the most of the
spacious arena, the variety
of show jumps and crosscountry fences, as well as
the more recently added
bank and the wonderful
water complex.
It therefore seemed tting
that our rst outing postlockdown was to return
to those same fantastic
facilities!
Having not jumped a stick
for the past nine weeks
(or indeed been on the
horsebox!), I wasn’t quite
sure how ‘Jewel’ would
behave, but I needn’t have
worried! The break from
jumping had clearly done
her the world of good and
she was keen to get going,
but I made sure to give her a
really good warm up on the
at. This served multiple
purposes, allowing her to
see round her, get used to the
road noises and the many
JUMPING FOR JOY: ‘Jewel’ and I were both delighted to be
able to go schooling again. (FW22-545NN)
fences in the huge arena
again, as well as warming up
and stretching her muscles
before we even approached
a fence - minimising the risk
of either of us sustaining an
injury!
When we were well
warmed up, we jumped some
of the smaller show jumps,
followed by the smaller
cross-country fences. We
trotted through the water,
then cantered through and
jumped the log at the far
side. We then added the
fence before the water, as
well as the log afterwards.
Gradually, we jumped a
few more fences, including
a skinny or two and a
steeplechase fence. Having
not jumped for some time,
I was conscious not to do
too much or aim too high - I
wanted to be sure to end on
a good note with both of us
still in one piece... Mission
accomplished!
The next day, a friend very
kindly rode to meet me at
the end of our lane and we
went out for a lengthy hack.
We just walked, chatted,
admired
the
beautiful
scenery and soaked up the
sunshine - the simple things
in life truly are the best! The
roads we were on were quiet
and the trafc we met, for
the mostpart, was patient
and courteous. The drivers
clearly not under the same
stress to be somewhere in
a hurry, as they sometimes
can be.
It was such a pleasure to
be back out again in horsey
company (albeit socially
distanced!) and the icing
on the cake was that the
weather was glorious!
I am feeling very motivated
by this positive start and
have a lesson arranged with
my coach for the coming
week... And it even looks like
the good spell of weather
is set to continue. Onwards
and upwards everyone!
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