April 2020 Issue

The News East Coast Horse Owners Need To Know OUR TH YEAR 1993 - PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 280 LANC., PA 17604 Vol. 27 No. 3 April 2020 Inside... Pennsylvania Equine Council spring newsletter….pgs. 32-33 Equine health care, nutrition, therapy feature….pgs. 10-22 Clinics, Shows Camps feature.… pgs. 23-24 …and much more! It started with a trickle on March 12 as news of the sever- ity of the novel coronavirus 19 outbreak began to sink in and restrictions on daily life began. Cancelations of equestrian events began with almost apologetic explanations, only to turn into a torrent days later. Thursday, March 12 A day after the World Health Organization declared the epi- demic a pandemic, the US stock markets fall 6 percent. Travel from Europe is suspended, col- leges tell students to leave, NBA suspends season. Horse Power for Life, which provides equine-related activities for cancer patients and their fam- ilies, announced “with an eye to- wards an abundance of caution we have made the decision to resched- ule” the 2020Annual Pink Horse Shoe Gala from the original date of April 4 to September 26. “Due to the nature of the individuals our program is designed to support, we often have many individuals attend the gala who are immuno- compromised and would not want to put them or ANY our guests in a potentially harmful situation.” The Willowdale Steeple- chase announced on March 12 that the race was on for May 9, only to reschedule it to June 6 four days later. Saturday, March 14 The US Hunter Jumper Association suspended all recog- nized events for two weeks. Sunday, March 15 European stores are ordered to shut down and people told to stay home, US president declares national emergency. On March 15, the governor of Maryland shuttered all Mary- land racetracks “indefinitely”. The same day, Penn Vet New Bolton Center began shift- Equestrian Events Slam to a Halt as Coronavirus Pandemic Spreads ing to a Limited Clinical Status, allowing medically necessary ap- pointments and procedures only. The Center updated policies for those dropping off or picking up horses or medication and contin- ued farm visits through its Field Service. The Winter Equestrian Festi- val and Global Dressage Festival, with two weeks left in the series, ended on March 15. Monday, March 16 The Federal Reserve slashes rates to near zero, stock markets sink further, New York City, Penn- sylvania and other states close schools. The US Equestrian Federation announced that as of March 16, “all USEF owned events, selection trials, training camps, clinics, and activities will be suspended for the next 30 days. Additionally, USEF strongly recommends that compe- tition organizers suspend all USEF licensed competitions across the country for the next 30 days and that equestrians do not compete for the next 30 days. For those com- petitions that do run, there will be no accumulation of points, scores, money won, qualifications, or rankings toward any USEF awards programs, USEF owned event, or selection to a US team during this 30-day time period. This includes USEF National Championships.” The North American League, consistent with the USEF posi- tion, announced it will not sanc- tion classes at any horse shows held during the next 30 days. The Washington Internation- al Horse Show suspended the sanctioning of WIHS Equitation and Championship qualifying classes for 30 days. “Members are advised that points will not be awarded to riders competing in any WIHS Equitation and Championship qualifying classes offered at horse shows held during this time period.” Equine Affaire, scheduled for April 2-5, is canceled. “We have weighed a variety of scenarios and, unfortunately, rescheduling the event within the coming year simply is not a possibility,” said Marketing Coordinator Beth Volpe in an email.. For the first time in its 42 year history, Equestrian Events Inc. canceled the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event and the Kentucky CSI3* Invitational Grand Prix. The events had been scheduled for April 23-26 at the Kentucky Horse Park. The US Hunter Jumper Asso- ciation suspended all recognized events for 30 days. Tuesday, March 17 Reports of an Imperial Col- lege London group report that if nothing was done by governments and individuals and the pandemic remained uncontrolled, 510,000 would die in Britain and 2.2mil- lion in the United States reached the news. Pennsylvania Gover- nor shuts down all non-essential businesses. “Essential services and sectors” exempted from closure include agriculture, feed mills, vet- erinary clinics and pet stores. State parks closed facilities but trails and parking lots remain open. The Kentucky Derby announced its move to the first weekend in September. It was the second time in its history the race was postponed: During WWII, the Derby was held on June 9 after horse racing was banned from January to early May 1945. (Hoop Jr won, with Eddie Arcaro up.) The Maryland Jockey Club announced the postponement of the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, MD. At a news conference March 17, Gov. Larry Hogan said the race will likely be moved to Sep- tember but no date has been set. Last Chance Ranch, the Quakertown, PA rescue, cancelled events including their annual gala for the next eight weeks and shut down their Thrift Store. These moves were predicted to decrease funding by $100,000 for the month of April, according to Executive Director Jackie Burke. “During this unprecedented time, we are pleading to our supporters to consider making a small contribu- tion. This is a $10 Tuesday Call to Action, or any amount you are able to donate,” she said in an email. The 42nd Annual Winterthur Point-to-Point, scheduled for May 3, is cancelled. This is the first time the event has been can- celled since it began in 1979. The Capital Challenge Horse Show announced that qualifying for Taylor Harris Insurance Ser- vices National Children’s Medal and Ariat National Adult Medal classes is suspended for any horse shows held in the next 30 days. Wednesday, March 18 US President calls for $1 trillion stimulus. Pennsylvania governor tells all non-essential businesses to close. US Pony Club suspends all sponsored events for 30 days. US Dressage Federation stops accepting scores from USEF licensed/USDF recognized competitions through April 15. Top eventer Phillip Dutton wrote on Facebook: The team here at True Prospect Farm is trying to maintain as normal a routine as possible under these difficult cir- cumstances. We are heading back fromAiken, SC to our home base in Pennsylvania and will continue to train there in the hope that this too shall soon pass with everyone’s cooperation. Our thoughts go out to all those affected and we recognize that this an extremely difficult time for everyone. We will keep riding, keep working towards our goals and keep loving our horses and what we do every day. The Maryland Horse Council announces: As of today, March 18th, the ban on all gatherings of more than 50 people remains in effect. This means that any event larger than 50 people (e.g. horse shows, clinics, larger trail rides, conferences, etc.) is illegal under current Maryland law. Willful violation of the ban could result in fines up to $5000 and impris- onment of up to one year. Tours and farm visits are canceled at Hanover Shoe Farm but life otherwise went on, with about 20 Standardbred foals ar- riving between March 7 and 19. Thursday, March 19 Pennsylvania Governor orders all “non-life-sustaining” businesses to close. Pennsylvania has its first coronavirus death. The New York Racing Association announces that live racing at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., will be sus- pended until further notice after a backstretch worker who lives and works at Belmont Park tested positive for the coronavirus Olympian Boyd Martin reports his team has returned to Pennsylvania and he is planning to open the Windurra cross country course for schooling on April 1. Still on at this Point Steeplechase races: Fair Hill Races at Laurel Park in Laurel, (Continued on page 9)