> COVID-19 Updates - June 18, 2021

New Public Health Order restrictions come into effect Saturday June 12 and extend to Saturday June 26 at 12:01 a.m.

The recent advice posted by Manitoba Horse Council on Facebook and the website was posted as a direct result of information received from Sport Manitoba.

The advice from Sport Manitoba was:

“Sport Manitoba Update regarding the current Health Orders: Current orders specify places like gyms, fitness centres, and yoga studios can provide outdoor training with up to 4 participants plus an instructor - this is not the case for sport. We have clarified that Public Health do not want coaches working outdoors with 4 athletes, because they are concerned about parents bringing kids to a facility and mingling. The rationale for it being OK for gyms, fitness centres, and yoga studios is that the clientele is primarily adults. We have also clarified there is no difference or change in the orders for individual vs team sports. Though technically, one-on-one sports can happen, we don’t believe this is the intention or in the spirit of the current orders. The intention of the current orders is that sport is still shut down both indoor and outdoor.”

This advice from Sport MB is merely an interpretation of information that took 8 days to come down the pipes from Health.  The orders stand.  Manitoba Horse Council urges all members of the equestrian community to comply with the current  Public Health Orders and safety measures.  Whilst SafeSport mandates must be complied with, MHC strongly recommend that parents accompanying juniors do so in a remote, socially distant fashion.  All barns and facilities have their own rules and regulations regarding covid safety measures, and these must be complied with.  The decision to lesson or not lesson is up to individuals and their own unique circumstances. 

The current  orders state:   

15(1) Outdoor sporting and recreational facilities, including golf courses, may open, subject to the requirements of this section.

15(2) Persons may engage in any type of outdoor sporting or recreational activity but they must not engage in an activity as part of a group of more than five persons.

15(3) No organized team activities are permitted while these Orders are in effect.

Manitoba Horse Council recommends that in light of the maximum gathering size of 5, that groups do not exceed 5, including the coach/supervising officer, all sessions to take place outdoors, no spectators.  Boarding barns remain an essential business and riding is allowed under the welfare section, however, all the usual covid precautions must be enforced and adhered to.

• Indoor arenas remain closed to all except light conditioning riding under the essential services allowance. No lessons may be given inside. However, for Safe Sport one parent / caregiver or other responsible person should accompany a minor.
• Currently, all day camps for children must be closed.
• Provincial requirements for social distancing, mask wearing, sanitizing of hands and equipment, etc, still prevail.

Provincial guidelines may be amended from time to time and it is the facility/event organizer's responsibility to be aware of any changes. The gov.mb.ca website link gives current information as of the day an Order is applied.

The current Public Health Order is at this link.

A number of provincial and federal grants are noted in this link. Please take the time to review them, as eligibility has changed for some of the programs.