Some Helpful Tips to Help You Navigate the Equine Industry in the Time of COVID-19 Outbreak

COVID-19 or the Corona Virus outbreak, which has made the world stumble and come to partial lockdown, for the time being, is affecting all works of life and every industry across the globe. The equine industry is not an exception. Moreover, due to pandemic, the rumours, misinformation and general panic, it is quite understandable that you will be worried about the situation and how to handle everything. 

The situation of the equine industry 

People are wondering how to handle their horses, how to arrange for essential care, how to manage everything, and so on. Moreover, due to the self-quarantine and social isolation, the carer and other service providers are wondering about possible strategies regarding the horses at this time of need. In short, all the doubts and questions are hitting the equine industry hard. 

Some suggestions and information for your help 

To make this process a little easier and manageable, the government has come up with various tips, suggestions and policies. Here, you are going to get the vital information in a nutshell which will allow you to keep both yourself, others and the horses safe and well cared for. 

A list of dos and don’ts regarding COVID-19

The first step is ensuring your well-being which means knowing about the tips which will help you remain safe. The dos in this situation are: 

• Washing your hands with soap and water frequently and every wash should be at least 20 seconds long and involve all sides of your hand. 
• After reaching home or your workplace (in this case, the stable or riding club or somewhere similar), your first task is washing your hands thoroughly. 
• If you do not have soap and water readily available, ensure that there is enough alcohol-based hand sanitiser for the job. 
• If you are coughing or sneezing, always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your sleeve (never with your hands). 
• Always put the used tissue in the bin immediately after and wash your hands or use sanitiser. 
• Maintain social distancing and make sure not to venture too close to another human being. 
• If you need to be close quarters with people on a daily basis, invest in facemasks and use them religiously. 
• Ensure that there are enough handwashing facilities for everyone, and they are washing hands after using shared yard equipment. 

The don’ts in this situation are: 

• Touching your face, mouth and nose, if your hands are not clean. 
• Getting into social gatherings and venturing outside even if you are not feeling well. 

After taking care of yourself, the next step is taking care of the horses as a sole or syndicate owner. The following tips have been designed to help you navigate around the situation successfully and keep everyone safe, including your beloved horse. The steps you should be taking in this situation are: 

Speak to your yard manager 

You have to ask the yard manager or the stable owner if they already have a contingency plan in place or not. You have to enquire whether they are capable of providing the care and additional services in the absence of the horse owner (due to self-isolation). 

Create a buddy system 

If you have a buddy system where people in the stable know you and your horse, they can help in this situation. You will have to find out if they are insured and adequately covered to handle the responsibility or not. If you are a syndicate owner, then you can talk to the other owners and create a rotation while keeping the communication clear. This way, they will know what to do and how to do without getting entangled into the complications of the system. 

Create a clear care plan for your horse 

If you are in a position to handle the responsibility or visit and none of your regular care providers is available too, and someone new is picking up the task, having a thorough and written care plan will be for the best. It will allow them to get familiar with the routine of your horse which in turn will keep your horse from becoming agitated and feeling lost. 

Ensuring if an exercise plan is possible for your horse or not 

You have to enquire and find out if your horse can be taken out of the stable every day or only a few times a week. Depending on the available opportunity, you have to chalk out an exercise plan for your horse which will accommodate everyone involved in the process and their issues. The same procedure should be implemented on the feeding, general caring, grooming and monitoring of the horse. It will make the transition easier to handle. 

Having an emergency plan is for the best 

You need to have an emergency plan in hand, and you have to provide the information to anyone directly associated with the care of the horse. Starting from the yard manager to the groomer, from the nutritionist to the jockey, everyone should be aware of the plan, including the contact details and other relevant information of your vet. This way, in the event of you or all of the other owners, cannot be contacted, the caregivers will know what to do and how to handle the situation best. 

Keeping the communication clear 

Remaining connected with the rest of your syndicate owners, everyone involved in the care of the horse and keeping the communication channel clear will be a smart choice. If you have an app like Equine Organiser at hand, all of these will become simpler to handle. 

Keeping updated about the veterinary service 

Knowing what is going on with your vet, what practices of theirs are changing keeping COVID-19 in mind will help you to plan everything properly. The information will prove most helpful in the case of an emergency. If your vet is ill and is in self-isolation, you will know beforehand and can make alternative plans. 

Ensuring there are enough supplies for your horse including medication 

You have to make sure that there are sufficient and sensible supplies for your horse. Amidst this scare and panic buying, it is very easy to forget the issue and end up creating a bigger problem in the next few weeks. Therefore, it will be for the best if you arrange for supplies to last the next few weeks, including medication, both prescribed and emergency (as required). 

Some conclusive suggestions and ideas 

For any further information, you can go through the government website and the national health authorities. Panicking won’t help; instead, it will create more significant issues which are easily avoidable. Hence, it will be for the best if you take greater care in learning the ways of keeping yourself and others safe. It will go a long way in keeping the panic to a minimum. It will be beneficial for everyone in this situation, and the case of worries and anxiety will be handled in a mature and helpful way.