Lockdown on the Isle of Wight by Jo Monck
Oxfordshire to the Isle of Wight when lockdown was announced, which was a good thing as that is where my horses are at the moment.
I
The situation seemed quite unreal and had a war time feel to it, as we got to grips with this new way of life, hoping that it was a temporary crisis that would soon blow over. The government broadcast that announced the lockdown seemed to leave just fragments in my head ‘Stay in’ ‘Don’t see anyone’ and above all ‘Wash your hands’. So at this little smallholding on the Isle of Wight we entered into Lockdown proper, I had to make a hard decision to have to tell my livery that we would take care of Freddie, her horse, until this was all over and that she wouldn’t be able to come up. We literally shut the gate and this little area became our world. I believe many other yards had to make the same choice and we were very lucky that we had just one extra to take care of.
On the 24th March I woke up to the sound of silence, no planes in the sky, no cars on the road no clip clop of horses passing on their morning hacks, as if time itself had stopped. I had no idea that rural as we are, that the world made quite so much noise. I went out to the stables and then thought the question was whether I continue to ride, or give Durante a break. All over the world as the Covid 19 virus made it’s frightening progress, horse riders were having to make similar decisions if indeed they were even allowed to go and see their horses. Some yards have been able to continue with DIY livery using timed visits so
had just got back from
that the number of people on a yard at any one time are kept down to a minimal.
I am lucky enough to have the horses and school outside my front door and so decided that I would knock out canter, hacking and jumping and concentrate on doing online dressage tests at intro level, unless we were told we were not allowed to continue riding and then there would be no question about stopping.
Vets on the Island announced sensibly that they would be attending emergencies only, these emergencies were listed quite clearly on their website; vaccinations and routine visits were not going to be made until further notice. My farrier would also not be coming unless it was an emergency, I kind of wished I had persevered with having Durante barefoot. If anyone really needed help on the Island with a horse, none of the professionals over here would let anyone down but it still felt a little strange as we entered an unknown territory.
Gradually the ferry companies cut down their services until they were down to people making essential journeys and freight only. The hovercraft was taken off completely, together with the Fastcat and the Yarmouth to Lymington route. The Island began to feel well and truly cut off. I think this has been the case right across England, as social distancing and staying at home has produced a similar effect everywhere, even without a dividing stretch of water.
I wondered what was happening with riders in other countries, Marty Wheeler Davison who lives in Portugal says that although riding has not been stopped by law, the ruling is that only two riders are allowed to ride out together at any one time. The people of Portugal have been very strict on their lockdown with no-one venturing anywhere non essential and certainly no gatherings.
30
June/July 2020
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