News

** CPC Directive on Pony Club Activities and Exposure Risk for COVID-19 - National Directive Regarding Continuation of Suspension of Physical Activities and Testing Implications**

Apr 7, 2020

Hello again to our Pony Club family and friends. We hope you are staying well and continuing to carry out best practices for personal health and safety by hand washing and physical distancing to protect both yourselves, your families and friends so that we might all be together again one day. We know that these necessary steps and the obligatory self-isolation protocols are difficult, especially now in the nicer weather and at a time when we normally look forward to reconnecting with our horses and setting goals for the rest of the year. This time and these circumstances are testing every measure of the resilience, endurance, character and sportsmanship attributes for which Pony Clubbers are so well recognized. It is a tough time – but we are a tougher group of people. We will overcome.

In the interim, and in an effort to assure that future, we wish to advise the following:

That all physical Pony Club activities continue to be suspended until further notice.

This means that although electronic meetings and education continue, due to varying degrees of COVID-19 legislation across the country affecting access to barns, arenas and horses, all Pony Club hosted gatherings and riding activities continue to be suspended until further notice to assure the health and safety of all involved. We continue to monitor the impact this will have on scheduled activities like competitions, and testing and will be updating you monthly (or sooner if developments require). With specific reference to inquiries regarding competition and testing, factored into these considerations are not only government legislation affecting stables and horse access but the resulting health and fitness impact to both rider and horse to properly prepare for and participate in competition or physical testing should these activities become available. In light of this we wish to assure you that the Management Committee of the Canadian Pony Club continues to work diligently to explore all options available to continue to provide access to as many of our programming elements as possible.

The health authorities for each province are issuing guidelines based on the current circumstances in their provinces and the availability of information on rate and risk of infection. CPC encourages its members to review these provincial releases as part of their personal education effort surrounding this virus, and to respond appropriately when considering the activities they have planned.

As the situation continues to develop, CPC will update its statements and recommendations to provide the safest possible environment and practices for its members and volunteers. We thank you for your understanding and diligence in taking steps to limit the spread of the virus and protect yourselves and our members, and we rely on your acceptance and compliance with the measures set forth to assure the quickest possible return to regular operations.

Management Committee, Canadian Pony Club