Horse Illustrated Magazine

Just like many others, True North Stables’ show season ended sooner than expected when shows were cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. While the team at this hunter/jumper training facility ended on a high note, now the True North Stables team has shifted its focus to horse and human safety due to requirements by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revolving around quarantine and the public health risks with COVID-19. Staff members are sharing their quarantine tips with Horse Illustrated readers.

While True North has largely closed the doors to its Wellington, Fla. base, trainer Caitlyn Shiels and the newly hired assistant trainer, Cody Wooten, continue to keep the True North horses fit.

“While following the guidelines of the CDC and staying safe to help contain the spread of the virus, we’re also working hard to keep our horses on their regimented programs,” said Wooten. “They obviously don’t know that anything has changed, and we want to keep it that way.”

Shiels and Wooten will be focusing on their horses’ fitness and well-being, as well as their own well-being, while implementing quarantine guidelines for the farm. Watch the video above to learn what the team at True North Stables has been doing to keep themselves, clients, and horses safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s important to us to keep our horses going, but it’s equally important that we practice social distancing and follow extra safety measures during this time,” said Shiels. “We’re continually adapting and acclimating to the current situation, but it’s helpful to find solace in knowing that by taking these measures now, we’re helping to protect our industry and ensuring that we have an industry to return to.”

True North has taken several safety precautions that are recommended to all boarding and training barns, including the following:

◆ Temporarily closing the facility to anyone who is not essential
◆ Increased sanitization efforts for common surfaces including stalls, doorknobs, light switches, sink faucets, gates, and cross-ties
◆ Adding staff safety measures, including social distancing and more frequent and thorough hand washing

While no one knows for certain when competition will resume, Shiels and Wooten are remaining positive and looking to the benefits of the time at home.

“Downtime can be great for our horses,” said Shiels. “I look at last year, and we didn’t show from Derby Finals in August until Wellington in January, but we kept the horses going in their individual programs, and they came out fit and better than ever. We still had a focus and a goal, and we’re finding comfort in maintaining that same focus now.”

True North Stables will remain in Wellington, FL, until further notice for the safety of its staff during this time. To learn more about True North Stables, visit www.TrueNorthStables.com.

Thank you to Jump Media LLC and Caitlyn Shiels of True North Stables for sharing their quarantine tips with us.

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