IMPORTANT COVID ANNOUNCEMENT FOR HUNTING
The Government has stated that social gatherings of more than 6 people will be against the law from Monday 14th September, however organised activities that have received guidance from their Governing Bodies and have protocols in place are able to continue. As Autumn Hunting is an organised activity, Hunts operating within Covid-secure guidelines can therefore continue. The Hunting Office has issued advice and guidance on this and anyone attending must therefore comply with the following rules:
COVID19 SECURE RULES FOR HUNTING
The Government has stated that social gatherings of more than 6 people will be against the law from Monday 14th September, however organised activities that have received guidance from their Governing Bodies and have protocols in place are able to continue. As Autumn Hunting is an organised activity, Hunts operating within Covid-secure guidelines can therefore continue. The Hunting Office has issued advice and guidance on this and anyone attending must therefore comply with the following rules:
COVID19 SECURE RULES FOR HUNTING
- NHS Track & Trace: Hunts must record details of all attendees on any particular day for Track and Trace purposes including both mounted and foot followers. You must therefore book in advance if you wish to attend by emailing the Hunt Secretary's at suhinfo@gmail.com. Attendees will be checked against the advance list on the day. This information will be kept for 21 days in line with government guidelines.
- Social Distancing: must be adhered to by all attendees at all times (mounted and on foot). This means staying at least 2 metres apart – or 1 metre with a face covering or other precautions.
- Capping & Field Money: Cap/Field money should be transferred beforehand via BACS to limit cash handling on the day. Where this is not possible cash payments must be placed into a sealed envelope with your name telephone number and the amount enclosed. No change will be given.
- Self Assessment: All followers must undertake a self-assessment for Covid-19 symptoms. You should not leave home to participate in hunting activities if you or someone in your household has symptoms of Covid. Individuals living within a local lockdown area or keeping horses within a local lockdown area must not come out hunting.
- Mounted Field: Mounted followers must follow the instructions of the Field Master and other Hunt officials as they may be requested to spread out or stand separately to respect social distancing. Please be especially careful to avoid congestion or congregation for example in gateways or down tracks or roads. There will be no ‘meets’ – i.e. prolonged gatherings of the field – and hounds will move off promptly.
- Face masks and Hand Sanitising: Please wash your hands before leaving home and subsequently sanitise your hands regularly. We recommend that all followers take hand sanitising gel, protective gloves and a facemask with them in case they are needed to help in an emergency or other situation where social distancing is not possible.
- Food & Drink: Communal food and drink should not be disseminated during the hunting day. Followers should not share flasks with one another.
- Travelling and Parking: Horse boxes should be parked in such a way that allows maintenance of any social distancing requirements between riders, drivers, grooms and followers.
- Foot and Car Followers: should adhere to social distancing whether stationary or walking and spread out as much as practicably possible.
- Gates, Fencing and Gate Latches: We ask that Hunt followers do not unnecessarily touch, go through, or lean on fence lines or gates. If you do need to open or close a gate please follow hand sanitisation procedures.
- Members of the public: As ever, followers must behave with courtesy, respect and good manners towards members of the public and other road users, especially with regard to social distancing. Hunt followers must not engage with hunt saboteurs on any level.
- Younger followers and Children: Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult when participating in mounted hunting activities who should supervise them at all times and in line with social distancing guidelines.
