MANY activities in the countryside are curtailed because of the foot and mouth outbreak. But one activity can continue and that is horse riding.
Horses are not affected by foot and mouth, so it is perfectly okay to go riding at a riding school.
Most riding schools have arenas and indoor riding schools where you can learn to ride safely and without posing any risks as far as foot and mouth are concerned.
Hacking out is still possible in non affected counties where riding establishments have their own land on which to ride. While many bridleways and rights of way have been closed, it is always possible to ride on the road, and motorists are being warned to watch out for more horses on the
roads. Horses are no more likely to spread the virus than cars or people, so if cars can go on the road, so can horses -- and riders are disinfecting their horses feet, which is more than the cars are doing! In non-infected areas, there is nothing to prevent people going to and from a yard or stables. This means that visits from pupils, students, farriers, feed merchants, instructors can all go ahead as usual. Yards are taking precautions to disinfect those coming and going, just in case there is anyone coming from an possibly infected area.
Horses are not included in the MAFF Movement Order, so there is no legal reason to prevent people transporting their horses. However, it is better not to move horses around if you can avoid doing so, just to minimise traffic in the countryside.
Nichola Gregory
BHS Press Office
British Horse Society
Stoneleigh Deer Park
Kenilworth
Warwickshire1
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