First, I understand all too well what a catastrophic, unforeseen and scary event this is. I also understand that it is imperative that we follow all the guidelines of Health Canada, and that we have to be mindful of the increased risk to front-line workers from COVID-19.

HOWEVER, everyone is not in the same boat. Some of us in the agri-business sector have some very specific and unique challenges. We are duty-bound to continue providing the best health care to our livestock.

We do not have the luxury of working from home. We do not have the luxury of saying we will not order supplies while we’re shut. We continue to have all the responsibilities and little to no support from industry leaders and individuals in positions of authority.

Instead, we are ridiculed for opening our doors to clients.

We have been following the strictest guidelines of disinfecting all surfaces and common areas, social distancing, limiting foot traffic, hand washing and increased hygiene protocols, etc.

In the meantime, the airport “cattle” lines have zero social distancing and no hand sanitizers; airplanes are allowed to fly with hundreds of individuals stacked on top of one another (sharing the same recirculated air). Today, West Jet reported many of their passengers on multiple flights have tested positive. The hypocrisy is further demonstrated by public transit, beer/liquor stores, grocery stores, and malls. By the way, horse racing continues!

When the State of Emergency was declared, all indoor-recreational facilities were ordered to close. Our industry leaders, with consultation with insurance providers and sport lawyers, deemed that Equestrian falls in this category … I vehemently disagree.

However, Ontario’s governing equestrian organization issued a press release strongly recommending that all equestrian facilities close to the public. We have been painted into a corner and are thus complying.

Other than the necessities of life, the 49 horses in my care also require exercise, social interaction, and a regular schedule. While the “recommendations” advise that only primary caregivers attend the facility, these individuals are not qualified to exercise the sport horses. In fact, only their owners/riders are uniquely qualified to do so. Failing to provide this will inevitably cause all kinds of health issues including colic.

Surely riding facilities could be allowed to continue business with a few changes in place (already implemented by many stables):

  • Schedule appointments to ride so that there are not a lot of people in the barn at once;
  • Make sure people distance themselves in the aisles when grooming and tacking up;
  • Discourage any sharing of tack or equipment;
  • Follow stringent sanitation protocols (hand washing, sanitizer, etc.)
  • No admittance to the barn if you are, or have been, ill.

At this time of unprecedented need for leadership, I don’t need social shaming. I don’t need people in positions of authority to post threatening messages to comply or be faced with ministry $100,000 fines and five years in jail. I don’t need our “leaders” to take positions to “cover their ass” instead of providing real guidance and much-needed assistance.

What I DO need is my industry leaders advocating for the unique aspects of agri-business. We are not an indoor recreational facility like swimming or gymnastics where large numbers of people congregate with recirculated air. Our sport is the exact opposite. Our sport, by virtue of being on a horse, is social distanced even in an indoor arena. Leaders should be advocating that we have implemented much more stringent hygiene and disinfecting protocols than virtually all the other facilities and services that government has allowed to continue.

We need governments to react quickly to the financial needs of horse facilities immediately … before we start hearing the horror stories of neglected horses.

Now, more than ever, people need to latch onto whatever small pleasure or diversion they can … and it can absolutely be done at the barn WITH NO ADDITIONAL THREAT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

The entire horse industry needs to come together to support, communicate and assist one another through this crisis – keep in mind not all equine facilities have identical challenges.

Everyone try to stay healthy in body and soul!

 

The owner of Pickering Horse Centre, Gary Yaghdjian has been in the horse business for 42 years winning many awards along the way including being inducted into the Ontario Equestrian Hall of Fame in 2010.