The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Riding Lesson Barns and Summer Camps in Ontario.

The COVID-19 pandemic has direct effects on the operations of riding lesson facilities and summer camps, with little government guidance on how to implement these. An online survey link was distributed to riding lesson facilities in Ontario. Descriptive statistics of respondents ( = 72) reported a decrease in both the number of riding lessons offered and the number of riding students per lesson. Scheduling riding times and limiting access to specific places on the farm ensured controlled access to the farms. Strict hygiene procedures were implemented including disinfecting high contact areas and shared tack. Summer camps followed the same procedures, although some farms chose not to offer camps at all. The use of facemasks was not prevalent in either riding lessons (43.3%) or camps (25%), likely because the activities took place outside. However, recent evidence shows that facemasks are perhaps even more important when outdoors, and it is recommended that riding lesson facilities re-evaluate their requirements for students and staff to wear facemasks while in the barn. In spite of the hardships, many positive aspects were noted including time to attend to repair and maintenance needs, scrutinizing business practices, more respect for barn rules, and more time to bond with the horses.