curious

I take it this means that all racecourses are now closed for any exercise purposes? And what determines this? light ridden exercise is permitted if the Trainer considers that it is necessary for the horse’s wellbeing Exercise of Horses 2.0 This Directive includes provisions enabling exercise of horses under COVID-19 ALERT LEVEL 4, restrictions where needed to ensure the continued welfare of the horse. The welfare of the horse is encompassed by both its mental and physical wellbeing, and NZTR recognises that: 2.1 The mental wellbeing of some horses may be negatively impacted by monotony if only exercised on treadmills or horse walkers. 2.2 Some horses require light ridden exercise to avoid becoming overweight. 2.3 The continuation of pre-training practices that provide graduated learning of young horses is important to their development. 3.0 Light ridden exercise of a horse under COVID-19 ALERT LEVEL 4 restrictions is permitted if the Trainer considers that it is necessary for the horse’s wellbeing and alternatives would not be effective, if the exercise is conducted: 3.1 At a private property; and 3.2 The horse and staff and/or Trainer are resident on the same property, and all persons remain fully compliant to the government’s requirements under COVID ALERT LEVEL-4; and 3.3 The property includes suitable areas or an existing circuit upon which light ridden exercise can be safely conducted.

Just been through this in the last 24 hours trying to get one home from a trainers for interim agistment and light exercise. Who can move it? Can I go collect it? Can the trainer run it back here? Should we use a commercial transporter for a 10 minute trip. How do we do the exchange? Who can handle the gear, rugs etc. and under what conditions? It's not easy to get right but common sense applied and I think we did the best we could for human safety, regulations and the welfare of the horse. Anomolies remain in the directive though I think it's pretty well done even though the rules changed overnight. E.g., if you look at 4.1, it says galloping or fastwork is prohibited. Then in 4.3 it says the horse may be ridden up to half-pace. Half-pace means different things to different people around the world but I always thought it was galloping.

Yes pretty much. That was in the earlier version. Hygiene measures. 8.3 When exercising horses, or in stable areas, trainers and staff are required to maintain strict standards of personal hygiene: 8.4 Provision and use of disinfectant buckets and sprays, or soap and running water located throughout the stable and tie-up stalls for regular washing of hands: 8.4.1 On arrival and before departure from the workplace; 8.4.2 Before and after eating or drinking; 8.4.3 Before and after assisting another person around the horse (e.g. legging up a rider); and 8.4.4 Before and after handling of tack or equipment that is handled by more than one person. 8.5 All persons must wash and wear clean clothes before and after work; 8.6 Wearing of overalls and gloves for duties when it is practical to do so; 8.7 Use of disinfectant on all tack or other equipment that is used, particularly regular disinfectant of lead ropes and the reins of horses saddled for track riders; and 8.8 Assign a staff member to regularly disinfect surfaces that are often used such as toilets, benches, doors, gates, barrows, rakes, brooms, buckets and high contact areas on vehicles.

They've tidied this up a bit in today's amendments. 4.0 If light ridden exercise is justified and permitted under paragraphs 2.0 and 3.0, the following prohibitions are stipulated on the grounds of personal safety at a time when the public health system is dedicating to combatting COVID-19: 4.1 Galloping or fastwork is prohibited. 4.2 Education through jump-out starting gates is prohibited 4.3 The horse may be ridden only at a trot, canter or up to half-pace. 4.4 Horses may only be ridden at a distance of 50 metres or more from other ridden horses. 4.5 A very cautious approach must be taken to a decision to ride a very inexperienced horse or a potentially fractious horse.

Of course not. They are non-essential businesses.

Read 4.0.

From today's NZTR directive. Total sense. Exercise of Horses 2.0 Whilst this Directive includes within its provisions the ability to exercise horses, this is a provision provided only where needed to ensure the continued welfare of the horse. 3.0 Light ridden exercise of a horse is permitted only when: 3.1 The trainer is unable to identify an agistment property with that has capability to accept the horse within a 1-hour drive (note that relocation of horses to agistment is permitted within paragraph 9.2); 3.2 The horse is boxed, due to there being no suitable yards or paddocks on the trainer’s facility; and 3.3 The stable lacks a horse walker or treadmill. 4.0 If ridden work is justified under paragraph 3.0, the trainer must instruct the rider that galloping or fastwork is not permitted. Education of young horses, including through starting gates is also not permitted. These prohibitions are stipulated on the grounds of personal safety at a time when the public health system is dedicating to combatting COVID-19.

Close though given the power differential. Don't think many ethics experts would agree with you.

MPI decision on "essential services" NZTR 25 March 2020 In light of the government’s announcement that the country will move to COVID-19 alert level 4 at midnight tonight (25 March) only “essential services” are permitted to operate. Our advice from the Ministry for Primary Industries confirms that training centres, training stables, agistment properties and stud farms where horses are in containment are considered essential services under animal welfare considerations. Businesses with more than five people (including the owner) working at each business site, or who cannot achieve social distancing between staff, are required to register. The criteria and registration form can be found here. The businesses will need to answer 11 questions to provide assurance they have a plan and process to manage infection risks. Much of this will be covered in the NZTR protocols which will be distributed later today. In addition to this NZTR, the NZ Trainers’ Association and the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association will be providing a template to assist with completing the paperwork in a further communication later today. MPI has requested that all businesses which need to register do so by 5pm on Friday, 27 March 2020. Businesses will be able to continue operating while going through the registration process.

Maybe at level 3 but certainly NOT at level 4 which should have been in place a week ago.

What? and destroy the country and kill a few thousand more kiwis. You have to be taking the piss.

Correct. Sorry. I sometimes get ahead of myself.

Yes. That could possibly be argued for animal welfare purposes but otherwise training racehorses seems to me to surely be a non-essential business that must be closed down by the end of today. Likewise, preparation of training facilities, tracks etc. for other than animal welfare purposes.

Agree for animal welfare purposes ONLY. 24 March 2020 The TAB and New Zealand Racing are taking steps to close retail outlets and temporarily suspend all racing following the announcement that New Zealand would move to Alert Level 4 of the COVID-19 alert system in 48 hours. Betting will still be available on tab.co.nz. A move from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 4 at 11.59pm on Wednesday, 25 March for 4 weeks (minimum) requires the cancellation of all indoor and outdoor public gathering and all non-essential businesses to close. The decision to suspend all racing from Tuesday 24 March to Tuesday 21 April follows a meeting of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, Harness Racing New Zealand, Greyhound Racing New Zealand and the TAB today to discuss what steps the industry needs to take to protect the livelihoods of its participants. The group noted that while the country will effectively be in lockdown, the welfare of our animals remains an essential service during this time and more information on managing animal welfare was expected soon. The Codes and the TAB will continue to hold video conference meetings during the lockdown in response to the unfolding situation.

Yes, training may be able to proceed where required with suitable distances maintained and only essential staff on hand. Veterinary care as you suggest is I think an essential service. We also need to be able to receive deliveries of feed etc. I remain pessimistic about any May/June resumption though. Time will have to tell on that one. I'm not being negative though Michael, just trying to be realistic. My own one horse team remains in work at this stage in the hope you are right.

Michael, I think May/June is wildly optimistic though it would be great if you are right. Spring - September/October might be a a sensible loose aim at this stage but events over the next few days and weeks will be a guide to that. It could be longer. Of course, horses along with all livestock need to be fed and cared for but they do not require exercise other than in a paddock in most cases. I certainly don't see any case for training facilities to remain open. They are hardly essential services. It would make a mockery of the intent of the level 4 intervention and probably help f&ck the country and contribute to the deaths of 1000s of NZers. Please take this seriously.

Yeahhh .... some seem to know more than the horses and trainers do eh?

Yep. They should reduce code distributions at a guess to about 30% of current levels. Close the RIU and JCA immediately. Go back to club committee stewards voluntarily performing the integrity functions and provide training and support for that.

A no-brainer must do. RITA should have taken the lead here.

33 Week Ending Sunday 15th Mar for Clubs.pdf

NO. This error occured under the auspices of the current RITA board. The buck stops there.

I think I found a 3yo after Christmas so should be good to go.

I'm struggling to find any value in that market. Have you spotted anything?

Yep. Agree. And having a licence of some kind alone is not the whole criterion. They will need to be there, whether that's trackwork, trials or races, as "essential staff".

I'm thinking I may be eligible for a probationary stablehand/trackwork licence by then if I can find a trainer to take me on. That would solve the problem of gettting on course on raceday.