COVID-19 UPDATE RESTRICTIONS EASED FROM 11.59pm ON TUESDAY 27th OCTOBER

METRO MELBOURNE

Summary of the Third Step and further easing of restrictions

The latest easing of restrictions for Metro Melbourne allows an increase in activities for horse owners / equestrians.

From 11.59pm on Tuesday 27^th October 2020 - there are no restrictions on reasons to leave the house BUT you must stay within 25kms of home when engaged in equestrian activities and you may not cross the Melbourne/Regional Victoria border.

Exceptions to the travel restrictions include: 

COACHING
Professional equestrian coaches may travel outside a 25km radius from home including over the Melbourne/Regional Vic border provided they can produce their Permitted Worker Permit.

CARE OF HORSES
Owners, lessees and carers of horses are permitted to travel outside a 25km radius from home including over the Melbourne/Regional Vic border to care for their horse on welfare grounds. They should carry proof of their requirement to travel to provide care for the horse/s e.g.: registration papers, agistment contract etc.

PROVIDED YOU REMAIN WITHIN YOUR 25km BUBBLE & FOLLOW GATHERING, HYGIENE AND SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS YOU MAY RETURN TO EQUESTRIAN ACTIVITIES. 

You can:

• Ride your horse
• Care for your horse
• Have lessons
• Give lessons
• Attend rallies or clinics
• Attend competitions  

RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING EQUESTRIAN ACTIVITIES IN MELBOURNE METRO

• Indoor arenas remain closed.
• Activities must be outdoors and restricted to groups of up to ten people. More than one group of ten people can attend a venue provided 100m distance between groups can be maintained and there is no mixing of groups.
• Coaching may involve a group of up to ten people plus the coach.
• Rallies and clinics may involve a group of up to ten people plus coach/s and personnel required to run the activity.
• Competitions may be held with numbers limited by venue size/ social distancing requirements. No spectators. Essential support persons and event officials only.
• Face masks must be worn unless you are out of breath or have a valid reason for not wearing a mask.

As per our previous advice, Club grounds and equestrian facilities may open provided:

• The owners/operators/Clubs have a COVIDSafe Plan in place including a booking or tracing system to facilitate recording of users’ details and to limit numbers in accordance with current restrictions. 
• Club/Equestrian centre indoor facilities (e.g.: clubrooms) remain closed except for toilets.
• Competitions may be held provided a COVIDSafe Plan is in place including tracing, gathering, hygiene and social distancing requirements. Basic requirements include:
  • 10 riders at venue plus coach/s and essential support personnel (unless venue size allows more than one group of 10)
  • Maintain 1.5m social distancing
  • Record participants’ name/phone and time at venue
  • 4m distance between parked cars and floats
  • Every second yard/stable to remain vacant
  • Encourage good hygiene practices including wearing of face masks

COVIDSafe Plans are required for organised equestrian activities. 

Equestrian Victoria has developed COVIDSafe Plans for a “Return to COVIDSafe Competition” please refer to the EV website for further information on running competitions, squads, training and clinics during COVID-19.

The next Victorian Government review of restrictions for the Melbourne Metro area is scheduled for 9^th November. Subject to Government confirmation, the 25km travel limit and Melbourne Metro / Regional Victoria border will be removed, allowing state wide travel. 

REGIONAL VICTORIA

From 11.59pm on Tuesday 27^th October, Third Step Restrictions in Regional Victoria are easing further.  For equestrian, this means:

INDOOR ARENAS

can re-open with a limit on the number of people indoors. Exercise, training and coaching can resume with up to 10 people per indoor space and a limit of 20 people per facility. Equipment must be cleaned between uses. You should wear a face mask unless you are out of breath. Exercise must be non-contact. 

INDOOR NON-CONTACT SPORT 

can resume for those aged 18 years and under. Indoor sport can resume with up to 10 people per indoor space and a limit of 20 people per facility. Indoor sport is limited to the minimum number of people required to play the sport. Equipment must be cleaned between uses. There are limits on spectators to one parent, guardian or carer where the child requires supervision. 

TRAVELLING INTO MELBOURNE METRO

You may not cross the border into the Melbourne Metro area unless:

• You are a professional coach with a Permitted Worker Permitted travelling for work or
• You are required to care for a horse/s on welfare grounds. You should carry proof of the requirement to travel to provide care for the horse/s e.g.: registration papers, agistment contract etc

Matthew Brown
CEO, Equestrian Victoria

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