🚨 Scottish Government Update & Revised Equestrian Guidance 02/11/20 🚨

Following the implementation today of the Scottish Government's new levelled system, we are pleased that, as a non contact outdoor sport, most equestrian activity including recreational riding and professional coaching may continue. Unfortunately, however, there are limitations for adult (over 18's) competition as a result of the travel guidance to the general public..

Without doubt, the main frustration comes from the travel restrictions implemented by the First Minister.  These have been introduced across the levelled system and impose travel limits to, from and within Levels 0-4.  We are fully aware that this will impact significantly on many equestrian businesses.  The restrictions are uniform across all sporting activity, but with some exemptions for performance level athletes.

In summary, the current Scottish Government travel guidance is:

🔹You should avoid travel to other areas regardless of their level, unless essential.
🔹For exercise/sport, there are exemptions, however these are very limited:
🔹U18s – can travel freely for exercise at Levels 0-3 but should not travel in or out of a Level 4 area.  🔹Parents/carers may drive and accompany U18's to their activity but should not participate.
🔹You can travel freely for exercise within your own Local Authority area.
🔹Level 0, 1, or 2 areas - you should minimise unnecessary journeys between areas in different levels and avoid any unnecessary travel to places in Level 3 or Level 4 areas.
🔹At Level 3 – you are permitted to travel around 5 miles outwith your own Local Authority area for exercise but shouldn’t go into a Level 4 area.
🔹At Level 4 – you are not permitted to drive outside your Local Authority area for exercise – but are permitted to cross boundaries in the process of exercising eg. a circular riding/walking/cycling route
🔹Anyone organising events for U18's can continue to do so across Levels 0-3.

Professional coaching may continue where the coach undertakes essential travel as part of their employment.  A professional coach may travel between Levels 0-3 to undertake coaching sessions, but a participant receiving coaching must remain within the above travel parameters.

We appreciate the impact this will have on all of our Scottish centres and participants and we continue to work very hard on your behalf by feeding into Sportscotland, Active Scotland and Scottish Government, often collectively with other sports but also to represent specific issues identified within equestrian activity.  

Each Local Authority level will be reviewed weekly, with the first review being on the 12th November 2020.  

You can check your Local Authority level by inputting your postcode here  ⤵️

https://www.gov.scot/check-local-covid-level/

To download the full Equestrian Specific Guidance please follow the link below ⤵️ 

https://www.horsescotland.org/equestrianphaseguidance

Grant Turnbull
horsescotland Chair

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