So many of us have enjoyed the flexibility and advantages of working from home over the last two years, with less travel and more opportunities for a better work life balance.

On the other hand, you do have to be disciplined and NOT sit too long at the screen. The world is becoming increasingly busy again as we transition from everything being online to, thank goodness, the prospect of real events to organise and attend, including shows, face-to-face meetings and a semblance of normal life to be lived.

How has lockdown been for horses? Positive on the whole. We have all had more time which equals more opportunities to ride if you keep your horse at or near home – step into the stirrup and explore locally instead of getting into the car to commute.

Pooh pick in your lunch hour, just be around more – we know equines love human company, seeing us as the life force that keeps them safe, fed, and clean. We all know the benefits of spending quality time with our horses which means more grooming, tidying, handling. What’s not to like?

As the world opens up, our minds are turning to ploys, planning your next horse holiday, or event online is easier too these days with the technology on your phone to book, choose, research and route map.

The BHS has our practical Horses Welcome scheme to help owners choose suitable equine accommodation, but we don’t have loads of members. There are other options like Farm Stay UK and other equestrian escapes, or you might consider a residential camp – BHS Scotland has a couple of camp options each year at Lindores, in Fife, with great facilities, coaches and like-minded people to spend time with.

The worst thing that horse people can do is be a fuss pot – which means that equestrians have so many demands and needs that the accommodation provider is left tearing their hair out as preferential parking, fields viewed from windows, special facilities are all insisted upon.

It’s always difficult defending finicky, selfish behaviour and it doesn’t help organisations like the BHS in persuading holiday prospects that equestrian tourism is a joyful niche – and that is sad because most of us are grateful when we can take our horses somewhere nice with us on a few days off.

Horse ownership is such a huge privilege, good equine welfare, fair employment, a friendly image, responsible access to the countryside, share the roads with respect for other users, being respectful and grateful and acting with integrity – all these things will take the Scottish horse world forward in a positive way and allow our industry to thrive and grow as the productive economic driver that it is.

So much change, home-working brings benefits, equestrian tourism and sport is an opportunity for more options to treasure our freedoms – therefore, today we need to focus on the wholesome and spread the benefits of the horse world to others and to be ambassadors of peace giving responsible behaviour.

Archeology showed that Ukraine had a long history of horse domestication and was the home of many ancient breeds and lead the world in the use of horses.

Maybe people need to be more like horses and become purveyors of wellbeing, and like horses and ponies, be willing to give our all in exchange for good treatment. That is why the beautiful equine is seen as noble – if only people across the world could be noble too and do the right thing.

'Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people' – WC Fields.