Scotland's showjumpers have remained on lockdown so far this year and will do for most of March due to Covid-19, but there are plans to start affiliated show jumping under strict restrictions before the end of the month.

Professional riders, however, were allowed to travel, for work, further afield heading out to Vilamoura, in Portugal, for the Atlantic tour in February and March.

Stephen Lohoar travelled abroad with five horses on board, with the highlight of his tour being his third place in the CSI3* Grand Prix on board the British-bred Delius F. Forty-six started, 11 retired and just seven remained clear over the 1.5m first round track, with Stephen and the thirteen-year-old son of Handle Elite rising to the challenge to post a second clear pocketing the pair just short of £7000 in prize money.

Stephen also had Night and Day Vant Vlasmeer in the 1.3/1.4m classes, as well as some home-bred youngsters. Lantaro LSH headed a five-year-old section, while Kameron LSH and Kirana LSH jumped clears in the 1.2/1.25m classes.

Douglas Duffin left his Kirkton Equestrian base, near Eaglesham, with seven rides. Hazel Hiram's Linares BG jumped some good rounds in the 1.45m classes but just rolled a pole in the Grand Prix for a frustrating 16th place.

The five-year-old Carezzo was in the money in the CSIYH1*, but it was Douglas' own gorgeous bay mare, Endyana EH Z, which hardly put a foot wrong throughout the tour rounding off jumping double clear in 1.35/1.4m sections, winning money in six out of seven classes entered.

Katie McArdle's Imperium RJ looked impressive jumping into third in a 1.4m and Clyntara and Hey You were there or thereabouts in the 1.1ms.

From Leven, in Fife, 16-year-old Julie Davidson made her first international trip under the tutelage of Stephen to record a few places with Riverfield Legend, including a second in a strong 1.1m.They started the tour at 1.1m and rounded off jumping the 1.2m sections. Julie also rode Lanson LSH in the CSIYH five-year-olds.

Jenny Herries also headed over to take over the reins on Alex Brewster's Cliftons Adelaide to tackle the six-year-olds.

The most successful young rider was Amelia Milne, who only took Kung Fu Vant Heike with her, yet jumped five classes with only two poles on the floor. Victory was theirs in a 50-starter 1.2m when they stormed round to stand almost a second ahead of the rest of the field

News erupted at the end of February of the outbreak of the neurological form of equine herpes virus EHV-1 at another tour at Valencia, which was immediately halted, vets drafted in, isolation procedures put in place and every other show centre, rider, owner, etc alerted.

James Smith was extremely lucky to be diverted at the last minute, heading instead to Vilamoura for the last couple of weeks. That was allowed to go ahead despite word of equine fatalities at Valencia where it was hoped it had been contained.

James had with him five horses, including Twix De La Roque, who jumped the 1.3/1.4m classes; Just Max who collected a third in an accumulator; and Simply Splendid, which was second in a 1.4m.

HBF Delmar continued to impress clear in a CSI4* whilst the seven-year-old Clarimo stallion, Curious George, looked a useful new addition to the string jumping a couple of 1.3m.

The aforementioned riders had to have their horses health checked before leaving the venue, will have to quarantine on return and are barred from competition until the FEI decide it is safe to carry on. At the time of writing this, no horses were showing any symptoms and will hopefully remain that way.

Susan's dream busy night!

"This report (above) was sent just before 3.00am, jumped in bed, checked the camera and all quiet – set the alarm for 6.00am. Couldn’t sleep, so checked the camera again and there’s mare number two foaling!

"So jeans on, jumper on over the nightie and off out to meet a foal just before it hit the ground. Then it decided it was Red Rum for two hours before calming down for a drink.

"Then, officially shattered. That’s my first two this year and both fillies.

"The first to foal was Halstock Orla, which stood junior champion at the National Stallion show and won the Highland with me, while the second mare (pictured with her foal), was Halstock Lavender Belle. Both are by my own stallion, Kerswell Sprite."