A return to regional equestrian events

We are delighted that competitions are set to re-commence from this weekend for those living in regional Victoria.  We know how excited our riders, coaches, clubs and officials are and we wish you well for your preparations and performances, albeit under changed conditions.

For those in our community who are still unable to attend competitions at this point – our metro riders who remain in a state of restriction – our thoughts are with you and we can only hope that it won’t be too long before the restrictions ease and you too can return to competitions.

Equestrian Victoria continues to advocate on behalf of our membership and to provide up-to-date information in relation to COVID-19.  As part of our commitment to ensuring the health, safety, and wellbeing of our community, we do remind our community of the following:

• Metro riders cannot compete regionally, due to the current restrictions
• EV has provided clubs and Organising Committees with a COVIDSafe Officer Position Description – this role is vital to ensuring that events meet all necessary COVIDSafe protocols – but it continues be our collectively responsibility that we all play our part to ensuring we don’t put one another at risk;
• Clubs will be working hard to meet all COVID-safe protocols and it is expected that riders and anyone attending these events will demonstrate respect for, and adherence to, the necessary rules and processes that have been put in place, including showing kindness and gratitude to those implementing these procedures;
• The 2020 Calendar of events will be reflective of a “local shows for local riders” theme to mitigate unnecessary travel by riders and to keep clubs COVID compliant;
• EV will continue to guide our sport through the COVID situation, including ensuring there is adequate planning for any situation where plans may need to change at short notice due to sudden changes in COVID restrictions.

We would also like to share with you that as part of EV’s continued commitment to health and safety and supporting our clubs and event committees, EV will be subsidising the costs of event medical support at EV affiliated competitions, for EV members, in a COVIDSafe environment. 

As we begin to emerge from this pandemic, we must remain cautious.  We all look forward to a return to normal competition, and a season full of opportunities for our community to come together to compete and connect, but for now, a slow and steady approach is necessary.

Again, on behalf of the team at EV we wish all the absolute best to those who are competing over the coming weeks, as well as those of you who continue to wait patiently for a lift of restrictions.

Matthew Brown
CEO, Equestrian Victoria