Fourways Riding Centre hosts exercise days during lockdown level 3
TIMSRAND — The Fourways Riding Centre is offering lessons and small classes in line with Level 3 lockdown regulations,
In the words of Fourways Riding Centre’s owner, Marion Clough, the yard is ‘halfway open’.
Horse shows are not permitted at present but lockdown Level 3 restrictions have allowed for lessons and small classes.
For the Timsrand yard this is a blow, as most of its income is sourced from hosting shows and the catering involved.”We have been having exercise days instead, where I have built arenas and charged people who can bring their clients to ride,” Clough said.
“We have kept this up for a few weeks as we are not allowed anything resembling a show.”
Last year, Fourways Riding Centre unveiled its R500 000 CLOPF Fibre surface arena, which has proved popular in the riding community. During these exercise days, the yard ensures sanitisation, social distancing and the checking of temperatures to maintain the safety of everyone who enters the property. This can be expensive in itself.
“Unfortunately many people cannot afford to even ride or have lessons at this stage,” Clough added.”Let’s hope the pandemic does not get much worse, the situation is very difficult for some people [under the lockdown]. Many in the riding community are just trying to keep their heads above water and pay their staff wages.”
Details: Fourways Riding Centre riding@global.co.za; 083 265 8278.
