Grooms concerned about travelling

With reports that many riders and grooms are still planning on travelling abroad for the Sunshine Tour, despite government advice not to travel ‘unless for work’, the BGA are warning grooms to be aware of the situations that they may find themselves in following both new COVID restrictions and Brexit.

France, Spain and Portugal have banned non-essential travel to non-nationals and those legally resident and the BGA is concerned that many grooms may not get to their destinations, if they do set off.

The FCDO currently allows travel abroad for work purposes, however this might change if another lockdown is announced this evening. 

However, the country of origin from the port (France, Spain and Portugal), each now has its own restrictions due to the new variant of coronavirus. In the case of France, the exceptions for travel are quite clearly listed on the French Embassy guidance.

It would be ‘grey’ that a horsebox travelling with horses is counted as “Foreign nationals transporting goods internationally".

Please be aware that you will be travelling with a risk as it would completely depend on the customs officer at the port as to their view and interpretation on this line – with every possibility that you would be refused entry to France.

Each country also requires a negative COVID test 72 hours before travel, check the rules pre this well in advance. 

Of course all travelling to Spain/Portugal or France must have an operator’s license for their vehicle, otherwise they will not be fulfilling the FCDO requirement of 'travelling for work purposes' only. 

There is work behind the scenes to resolve this matter, succinctly to get the UK versions recognised in the E.U.

The BGA advises for all grooms to wait for further guidance regarding their CPC qualification and avoid taking any further versions of the qualification for now as it might be an unnecessary spend of money.

In addition, travel insurance companies are refusing to cover grooms and riders working abroad as travel is against government guidelines.

The good news is that holders of the EIHC health care card will still be treated when in the EU in an emergency, and this now becomes the GHIC Card and can be applied for as of today; but this does not cover additional treatment, or critically repatriation back to the UK – hence travel insurance is strongly advised.

For more information on the EHIC and new GHIC care click here

For information on travel to Spain go to: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain

For information on travel to Portugal go to: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/portugal

For information on travel to and through France go to: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france.

For support for grooms go to www.britishgrooms.org.uk

BGA MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS

IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING FOR WORK MAKE SURE YOU STAY UP TO DATE.