Coronavirus Updates – USA Extends Suspension of Shows to May 2, FEI Sets Up Task Forces to Deal with About 360 Canceled/Postponed Horse Shows Stretching to Year End
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Mar. 25, 2020
The United States extended suspension of horse shows into May, the International Equestrian Federation has created task forces to deal with the postponement or cancellation of about 360 horse shows stretching to the end of the year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Cancellations or postponements include the Tokyo Olympics being put off to 2021, the World Cup Finals of dressage and jumping canceled.
Some of the world’s most prestigious events such as CHIOs of multiple disciplines in Aachen, Germany and Rotterdam, Netherlands and Hickstead, England as well as Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Canada have been impacted by the disease.
An incomplete list of shows on the FEI calendar shows 348 canceled, including 50 dressage, throughout the year. Events in dozens of nations have been canceled, including 38 in France, 27 in Italy, 24 in the United States, 22 in Spain, 16 in both Germany and the Netherlands, 15 in Great Britain, 11 in Russia, 9 in Canada, 8 in both Australia and New Zealand.
The World Young Horse Championships and the continental games or championships such as European pony, young, junior, children and under-25 events as well as the North American Youth Championships in July and August have so far not been affected.
The FEI said it had received assurances from the International Olympic Committee that it will work with the 33 international federations with sports represented at the Tokyo Olympics to deal with rescheduling of qualification events as well as other issues impacting the international sports calendar.
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The U.S. federation said Wednesday the original 30-day suspension of horse shows that became effective March 16, 2020 was being extended by three weeks through May 3.
“Effective today, all USEF-owned events, selection trials, training camps, clinics and activities will be suspended through May 3, 2020 consistent with recommendations by the CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control). Competition organizers were urged to suspend all USEF-licensed competitions but for those that do run there will be no accumulation or points, scores, money won, qualifications, or rankings toward any USEF award programs, USEF-owned events, or selection to a US team during this time period. This includes USEF national championships.”
Tryon, North Carolina that hosted the 2018 World Equestrian Games, was canceled Wednesday after the North Carolina governor mandated that no events with 50 or more people could be held through May 15.
The CDI3* had been set for mid-April and followed cancellation of the last two weeks of the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida.
International dressage competitions scheduled for California in the first four months of this year were canceled.
If the coronavirus, or COVID-19 as it is officially named, has been contained within the next few months international dressage shows on the calendar for late this year include Saugerties, New York Sept. 16-19; Devon, Pennsylvania Sept. 22-27; Tryon, North Carolina Oct. 22-25; Temecula, California Nov. 12-15 and Thermal, California Nov. 19-22.
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British Dressage and Show Jumping announced further cancellations of events into the summer. Dressage events canceled include Keysoe Premier League April 24–26; Senior Inter Regionals and Para Home International at Keysoe May 2–3; Addington Premier League May 8-10; Royal Windsor Horse Show of both dressage and jumping May 13-17; Somerford Park Premier League May 22-24; Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show of dressage and jumping June 9–14 and Hickstead International dressage and Hickstead Derby (jumping) at Hickstead June 24-28.
