In January 2020 who knew that we would be facing an Olympic Summer without the Olympics? This pandemic spread so fast, one minute we were planning trips, shows and travel and the next we were locked up inside our homes for our own safety! These are indeed very strange times, and as our Government and the leaders around the World are trying to find their way in this new reality; the rest of us are most likely feeling fed up, worried, tired, bored, or perhaps absolutely terrified of not knowing if we will make it out of this alive.
True, reality can seem very bleak right now, but you know, there have been other pandemics and humanity prevailed. I believe that this one will be no different; we just have to stay the course, remain positive, and use our time to learn, grow and connect with our families and our animals.
There is a very special quote, which, since I first heard it in a Disney Movie,(yes that’s correct, Disney Wisdom I believe is very underrated!) I have loved it, and often repeat it to myself so that I remain focused on what I have in the here and now.
“The Past is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift, That is why it is called The Present.” Master Oogway, from Kung Fu Panda.
So friends, focus on the here and now and what you have, and what you can do, and use this present as the Gift that it is, so that when we emerge from this Pandemic, we will look at the World with a new understanding and respect and never take the joy of our freedom for granted again.
In this Issue of Irish Sport Horse Magazine, we decided to reach out to some different Equestrian Businesses to discover how they had been managing the Covid-19 Restrictions and what they believe the future with hold for the Sport Horse Industry as a whole.
We caught up with Jane Kennedy from Brennanstown Riding School; Irish Walshe from Brooke Lodge Livery Yard; Veterinary Surgeon Hugh Dillon from Troytown GreyAbbey; Veterinary Surgeon Henk Offereins from International Sports Medicine and Veterinary Director of equinetendon.com; Master Farrier John Dooley; Tara Lane from Centrepiece Rosettes; and Fellow of the BHS William Micklem shares his thoughts on how to tackle Equestrian Life following Covid-19.
For our Special Equestrian Interview, we learned that Vaulting is a family affair when we caught up with Charlotte Rimaud, Irish Equestrian Vaulting Athlete and her mother Alison Rimaud, who is an FEI Judge for the Sport. We discover more about this very technical but beautiful Equestrian Discipline, when Charlotte and Alison share what they love about Vaulting and their hopes for getting the Irish Pony Club involved, and perhaps having a future Equestrian Vaulting Demonstration at the Dublin Horse Show.
So Equestrian peeps it’s not all doom and gloom, as of Friday 1st of May 2020 the Government released their Five Phase strategy for easing restrictions as we head into an Equestrian Summer in a Covid World. By staying apart and making the sacrifice now, we will all be able to enjoy our horses and competition again in the near future.
Until next time, To Your Equestrian Success,
Roma Burke DC AMC MMAA & Jessica Soley BHSI