Covid 19 update

As many of you may have seen in updates from State Government today, they are looking at relaxing the current lockdown rules as of 11.59pm on Tuesday 12 May.

PCV have put out the following
A COVID SAFE RETURN TO EQUESTRIAN ACTIVITIES
Equestrian Victoria (EV), Pony Club Victoria (PCV) and the Horse Riding Club Association of Victoria (HRCAV) are committed to ensuring the health and safety of our members and community. We continue to remain engaged with all levels of government and industry bodies around the COVID-19 situation, providing you with the latest information as it translates to our sporting landscape.
Following Friday’s announcement by the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison about the national 3-step recovery plan, and this morning’s announcement by the Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews there is now a gradual easing of government restrictions that will allow the resumption of SOME equestrian activities.
From 11.59pm tomorrow evening (Tuesday 12 May), outdoor recreational activities can be undertaken in groups of up to 10 participants, subject to social distancing and hygiene measures being implemented. This means members may now:
Ride off property
Travel horses locally and regionally including for training/coaching – but no overnight stays
Participate in outdoor training/coaching activities with a maximum of 10 participants
Note:
Riders should check with venue as owners/managers who may have venue specific restrictions
Social distancing (1.5m) and good hygiene MUST be maintained
These allowances are for outdoor areas only – no gatherings for recreational activities indoors are permitted
Groups can be no larger than 10 (plus the coaches and helpers required to run the activity). More than one group of 10 can be present on a venue at the same time, if the different groups are physically well separated on different parts of the venue. No other facilities except toilet facilities may be used.
Members may continue to:
Have coaches, farriers, trainers, vets, and other equine professionals attend your property
Attend agistment centres to care for horses subject to venue owner/manager specific restrictions
The approach to activities/training should focus on ‘get in, train, get out’, minimising unnecessary contact in stables, toilet facilities, and any communal areas.
The Premier’s announcement is effective until 11.59pm 31 May, by which time we should have a more detailed plan that we can build upon to support the return to events and competitions here in Victoria, guiding our sport out of this crisis.
We understand the desire from members to return to group activities and competitions as soon as possible. PCV equally share this desire and we look forward to further announcements by the Victoria government over the coming week(s). We will release a more detailed and a stepped plan once we have that information.
The equine community is well positioned to move through the federal government and AIS frameworks. However, it is likely that modifications will be required to some of our current resources to mitigate additional risks related to COVID-19 based on government advice.
We thank you for your continued support during this challenging period and encourage members to contact the EV, PCV or HRCAV offices (as appropriate) if we can be of any assistance with advice or support. Please note, that our office hours and days have not changed since our last announcement.
Let’s all continue to exercise caution – we don’t want to take a backward step just as we begin to move forward.

City of Greater Geelong have said in a Community Spaces Update
⚠COMMUNITY SPACES UPDATE⚠ We’ll be opening public access to some of our outdoor spaces from 11.59pm on Tuesday 12 May, in line with the Victorian Government’s easing of restrictions. These include:
⛳🐴 We’re also working hard to put necessary safety measures in place to allow our directly-operated golf courses and public equestrian centre to open on Friday.

What does this mean for our Rallies
As PCV said…. the committee of Portarlington Pony Club understand the desire of all members to get back to rallies as soon as possible.
As a committee we will meet in the coming weeks to determine rally plans (in accordance with gathering numbers)and subject to COGG opening our grounds, and will communicate this to all members.

The committee thanks all members for their patience through this time, and we look forward to seeing everyone back on their ponies real soon.

Rob

Location

Pony Club - Fairfax & Willis St Portarlington