In light of the recent increase in COVID cases in youth programs in Berkshire county, we urge all of our riders to revisit and adhere our protocols including disinfecting your space and tools before and after riding and cleaning shared tack.
It is absolutely essential that anyone with children or siblings that attended any programs with a positive COVID case self quarantine for a minimum of 14 days and get tested prior to returning to BLF. We appreciate your adherence to our protocols and those of the state. We can get through this together if we keep BLF a safe place!
Everyone knows these are unprecedented times. We are all learning as we are going. At the farm we already had some protocols in place but with new state mandates and phased reopening of Western MA, we have expanded the protocol to include the following. Please keep in mind that these guidelines may have to change as we move forward through the summer.
All people arriving and departing must use the mandated, electronic guest book available through the QR codes available at gate and barn entrances. Use your phone to open link to the log. You may also use this link to log in.
Anyone that is sick should stay home. Anyone confirmed to have COVID-19 or a household member with COVID-19 should inform Lisa immediately so state mandated protocols can be followed. ALSO anyone with a household member who has been placed on a post-exposure self-quarantine must notify Lisa immediately and remain home for the duration of the household quarantine.
Riders must come wearing masks and gloves. While riding gloves or work gloves may not keep germs from our skin, it helps to keep us from touching our faces. Hand washing and sanitizing will still be necessary and part of our routine. Masks may be removed while riding in outdoor ring but should be kept in pocket to put on upon dismounting.
Riders will remain at least 6 feet from other people at the farm, both in the barns and outside the barns. Riders that cannot maintain a safe distance from others will be asked to leave until further notice, no refunds will be available.
Wash hands frequently. The main barn has a bathroom with sink and hand soap. Hand sanitizer will be available in all of the barns. Riders are encouraged to carry their own personal hand sanitizer.
Latches, doorknobs, tools and bathroom fixtures will be disinfected multiple times a day. The chore chart will be updated to include daily disinfectant times by staff. Help is encouraged. Everyone should disinfect what she/he has touched after use. All tack must be wiped down with leather soap after every use.
Only one person at a time will be allowed in a tack room. Do not congregate near grain bin in main barn.
Horses will be groomed and tacked up in the stall or outside, NOT in aisles on cross-ties.
Riders will bring their tools, helmets and gear with them each day. Tack trunks belonging to lesson or lease riders must be taken home until further notice. Backpacks or string bags are plenty big enough for grooming tools.
Each rider will only use her or his own grooming tools. If the rider does not have any, she/he will be assigned a set while at the farm. Any assigned sets will be sprayed with a disinfectant prior to assignment. The rider is responsible for bringing equipment daily.
Helmets will not be shared. Ideally, riders will arrive with helmets and boots. If a rider needs to borrow a helmet or boots from the swap shed, it will be disinfected before use and should be arranged before lesson. BLF equipment will be the responsibility of the rider for the time at the farm, will be taken home daily and returned to before final departure. For equipment, contact Dover Saddlery, Latham NY [(518) 690-9461] or Whitman’s Feed, North Bennington VT [(802) 442-2851].
Anyone bringing food or drink from home will carry in and carry out so we can avoid having excess touching of garbage can lids and trash floating about the yards.
Because of the need to limit the number of people at the farm at one time, those who own or lease will have very specific times to be at the farm. It is important that everyone sticks to the schedule to ensure safety and accessibility for everyone.
THOSE UNABLE TO FOLLOW PROTOCOL MAY BE SENT HOME WITHOUT REFUNDS.
We are hoping everyone is safe and healthy. The state has allowed lessons to start this week and requires new regulations that need to be followed in order for the farm to open for Phase 1 and hopefully progress to Phase 2, allowing summer programming. We have compiled a list of new protocols that must be followed for BLF to remain open. PLEASE, read the information and include any younger riders in reviewing the information.
BLF will have a QR Code that needs to be scanned with your phone camera to open the electronic guest book that will allow us to stay in compliance with the state’s mandated arrival and departure log. Riding times remain scheduled to 2 hour slots to control the number of people at the farm in accordance with the state’s regulations.
Riders must remain 6 feet apart and wear masks. The only time masks can be removed is just prior to mounting in the outdoor ring. They must be replaced after dismounting.
We are also asking all lesson and lease riders to take tack trunks home until further notice. Since nothing can be shared and we are mandated to keep equipment separate, riders who have their own grooming tools should bring them to and from the farm daily, along with helmets. The BLF string bags or back packs should work. Be sure to mark your things and bring a water bottle with you daily.
These are some of the most significant change but the attached documents have more information. Please let us know if you have any questions. We anticipate that the protocols may have to be changed as we move forward and will do our best to keep everyone informed.
Our full week summer programs are filled. There are a couple of slots available for the June 26-28 session as well as the more advanced July 1-3 session, which is limited to those that can jump.
Please visit the Summer programs Page for more details.
The winter cold has come and gone and returned again. Please be sure to send your young riders with layers and gloves. We will insist they put their coats on when they are in and out of barns with only a single layer.
As for the horses, thank you to our wonderful barn family that assists in the blanket changes. It makes it easier for everyone when we help each other out.
Be sure to text Lisa if you or your youth rider won’t be riding due to the cold. Stay warm!
Why board at Bonnie Lea? We are so committed to the wellbeing of horses that we have been leading the charge for soy free grain. We now feed a soy free pellet and/or soy free sweet according to our horses different needs.
We started last fall and removed soy from almost all of our horses feed. Gut health was the biggest reason for us to make the changes but the results have been outstanding. Metabolic horse? Cushings? Ulcers? Girthy? Dull coat? Tucked up? Mechanical issues? Let’s talk.
The results have been even better than we expected. Want to know more, please come speak to us about boarding at BLF and the benefits of soy free feed.
The Bonnie Lea Athletic Equestrian League Team had an outstanding day at the AEL National Competition. Three of the seven riders won their divisions for the day. Each division includes a flat class, over fences/pattern class and a practicum that tests horsemanship knowledge.
Coach Lisa said she was incredibly proud of all of her riders. Everyone had solid rides and learned something from the day. The team members and families reported that they had tons of fun and cannot wait to start up the new AEL year.
AEL registrations start in June. Bonnie Lea hopes to host one or two AEL shows in the coming AEL year. Contact us for more information.
On May 12, seven BLF AEL Team riders will be heading to the Athletic Equestrian League’s National Competition hosted at Mount Holyoke College.
We wish each rider luck in her/his flat class, fences and practicums!
With the first year almost complete, we are already looking forward to our second year of AEL competitions. Want to learn more about the AEL? Visit our AEL page and the AEL website – http://www.athleticequestrian.com/. New youth and adult members are welcome.
