Spectators stand shoulder to shoulder - something that’s currently unimaginable - at Dressage at Devon 2018. Credit: Hoof Print Images.
Riders and trainers with horses at all levels and disciplines are hoping competitions will return soon, but at this point, no one is able to say exactly when horse showing will return to normal.
The best strategy is to follow developments on the official websites of horse showing governing bodies, particularly the US Equestrian Federation.
The USEF’s original 30-day suspension of competitions became effective March 16, 2020. As states put stay home orders in place, and social distancing became the new norm, USEF followed recommendations by the CDC and extended the suspension of competitions through May 3, 2020.
USEF strongly recommends that competition organizers suspend all USEF licensed competitions across the country and that equestrians do not compete for this same time period. Those competitions that choose to run as allowed by their local recommendations operate without USEF recognition. There is 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.
How long the suspension could continue is unknown.
“We continue to regularly monitor the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on our community and the ability to resume competitions. Due to the continually changing environment, decision-making is complex and requires careful thought and analysis. As stated in our communication, we will keep our members and organizers informed about any updates to our position as circumstances warrant or as instructed by Public Health authorities,” USEF Marketing and Communications representative Vicki Lowell stated.
In press releases USEF recognizes the disruption to everyone, but also stresses the need to consider the safety of all members in this difficult time.
Devon Cancels
Some major competitions with dates beyond the current suspension period have already made the decision to cancel their event. This includes the venerable Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, scheduled for May 21 through 31. The only other time the 124-year-old horse show has been cancelled was during World War II.
Other events are hoping to be able to reschedule to fall dates. In order to make this possible, USEF has indicated that President, Murray Kessler intends to use his Presidential Modification authority to waive mileage rules and allow for major events to be rescheduled later in the year.
USEF reports they are working to develop a fair method for altering qualifications for rescheduled events and are engaging with organizers daily and continue to review situations on a case-by-case basis.
“USEF has implemented mechanisms to responsibly manage the competition calendar given the COVID-19 environment. There are many rules that fall under the heading of ‘mileage rules’ and the majority of them have to do with timelines, submission dates and processing dates. Under these rules there is also a Mileage Exemption Request process in place by which competitions can be added to the calendar within the boundary mileage of an existing competition and this is one of the mechanisms that we will utilize in managing changes to the calendar due to the pandemic,” Lowell said.
Breed and discipline organizations are working with the USEF to follow similar procedures with their programs while honoring the suspension of competitions.
In a USHJA press release, that organization expressed its commitment “… to supporting date changes for any USHJA properties scheduled to occur between March 16 and May 3, as rescheduling is in the best interest of the sport”.
Shows with fall dates are hoping to continue as usual but are watching for new developments.
Fall Shows Hopeful
“As you know, this is a fluid situation that changes by the hour. Our primary concern is, of course, the safety of all involved. It's premature for us to make any projections and we will not make a decision until June, at the earliest. We certainly hope that things will have resolved by the fall and we can hold Dressage at Devon 2020,“ said Lori Kaminski, president of Dressage at Devon. The show is scheduled for September 22-27.
Susie Webb, executive director of the Pennsylvania National Horse Show is cautiously positive. “We’re just taking it one day at a time. The whole horse show world has really been shut down along with everything else. At this point we’re still proceeding forward,” she said.
Because the show is held at a state-owned facility, that could be a factor in the availability of the site. This is the 75th year of the Pennsylvania National Horse Show at the Farm Show Complex, scheduled for October 8-17.
“At this point, we’re still looking forward to having the horse show and having the 75th year celebration. We want to stay positive and hope everything will get back to normal,” Webb said.
From the competitor’s point of view, there is very little that can be done until the pandemic situation is resolved.
Top professional hunter rider Louise Serio returned to her home base in Pennsylvania earlier than usual when showing was suspended. “Fortunately we spent the winter in Florida, so my horses could do with a little break. We actually would still be in Florida right now, but I came back fairly quickly after they cancelled everything,” she said.
Serio noted that even if the USEF were to lift restrictions now, there are state by state restrictions that would have to be considered by each horse show.
Serio has seen a wide variety of reactions to the situation. “Some are quite upset; some are very understanding and understand the danger of just going out and catching the virus. Everybody reacts differently,” she said. “I just hope everybody stays safe and be careful and try to stay in as much as you can right now so maybe they can let us out sooner.”