Tag Archives: COVID-19

Competitions, Hunter/Equitation, Kentucky Horse Shows, Show Jumping

Prize Lists for 2020 Kentucky Horse Shows Summer Series Now Available

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Lexington, Ky. – April 29, 2020 – Kentucky Horse Shows LLC is pleased to announce that the prize list for the 2020 Kentucky Summer Horse Shows is now available online. The shows are the first two of five weeks featuring top-notch hunter/jumper competition at the breathtaking Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

The prize list and entry forms can be accessed here.

At this point in time we are hoping to proceed as scheduled with our shows.  Entries and stall reservations by mail are open immediately. The online entry platform will open on May 1st. Entries and stall reservations may be secured online by credit card and by mail with a check. However, no credit cards will be charged and no checks deposited until we are certain that the shows can be held safely. At that time, all entries will be considered definite entries and will become subject to the show policy regarding scratches as outlined in the prize list.

We are in the process of developing protocols to ensure the safety of everyone involved in the horse show environment once horse shows start again. These procedures will be arrived at with the guidance of state and local health authorities as well as USEF and when we have finalized them, we will publish them. The driving force for all involved will be the health and safety of all exhibitors, their employees, and show staff.

We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and maintain communication with the Kentucky Horse Park, state and local health officials, and USEF. Should we determine that the shows can’t be held safely we will notify all affected parties immediately. In the meantime, we will distribute any updates by email and social media. You can also monitor our website at www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

For the 2020 show season, all Kentucky Horse Shows prize lists will only be available in digital format. Prize lists for USEF Pony Finals, Bluegrass Festival, and KHJA Horse Show will be distributed separately in the coming weeks.

For more information about the Kentucky Summer Series, please refer to the prize list on www.kentuckyhorseshows.com.

Dressage, Driving, Eventing/H.T., FEI, Show Jumping, Vaulting, Western/Reining

FEI Board Approves Resolutions Based on Calendar Task Forces Proposals

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The FEI Board held an extraordinary meeting 27 April 2020 to review proposals from six of the discipline-specific Calendar Task Forces. Discussions at the meeting, which was held via videoconference, were on Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Vaulting, and Reining.

During the meeting, the FEI Board agreed that discussions and decisions on FEI Championships for all age categories and disciplines, and potential initiatives to help Organisers, will be deferred to its June meeting.

National Federations and Organisers whose Calendar date applications/modifications have been approved by the FEI during the Covid-19 period have been informed that no guarantee of exclusivity will be provided to them for the new Calendar dates and that equal consideration of all future Calendar date applications/modifications will be given by the relevant Calendar Task Force and by the FEI Board.

Other key takeaways from the meeting are:

Jumping: Due to the uncertainty about the organisation of Competitions worldwide during July and August 2020, the Board has approved all Calendar date applications/modifications for Jumping Events that take place up to and including 30 August 2020. No date clash rules will apply for this period.

Dressage: date applications and/or modifications for high level events (CDI5*/CDI4*/CDI3* and CDI-W) must reach the FEI eight weeks prior to the event. Date clash rules will not apply to CDI3*.

Eventing: date applications and/or modifications for CCI5* & CCI4* Long Format must reach the FEI six weeks prior to the event; date applications and/or modifications for CCI4* Short Format and all other Events must reach the FEI four weeks prior to the Event.

Driving: date applications and/or modifications must reach the FEI four weeks prior to the Event.

Vaulting: date applications and/or modifications must reach the FEI four weeks prior to the Event.

Reining: date applications and/or modifications must reach the FEI four weeks prior to the Event.

Detailed information on resolutions for each discipline are available here.

The Dressage Calendar Task Force held its second meeting 28 April to review applications received for higher-level events. The Jumping Calendar Task Force will hold its third meeting on 4 May 2020, followed by Eventing’s second meeting on 14 May when its Task Force will review applications for higher-level event date changes.

Media contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Communications
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Shannon Gibbons
Media Relations and Communications Manager
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 4

Community/Charity, Equestrian Aid Found., Equestrian Assistance

COVID Update: Do You Have a Little Hay to Spare?

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In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Fleet of Angels Emergency Hay Bank coordinators are working hard to meet the overwhelming needs of horse owners across the United States. For some, a little hay is the deciding factor between surrendering their horses and “rescuing in place” until the situation stabilizes.

If you’re in a position to help, you can do so by donating hay or making a monetary donation. Every donation — a few bales or a few dollars — helps!

If you need hay, learn more about the application process here.

For more information about Equestrian Aid Foundation, please visit EquestrianAidFoundation.org.

Community/Charity, Equestrian Assistance

Three Things You Can Do to Be Productive When You’re Stuck at Home

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By Leone Equestrian Law

Question: What’s the best way to be productive in my downtime while I’m at home during the coronavirus outbreak?

Answer: Great question! While we are all on “stall rest” and having to stay a few strides apart from each other these days, now is a good opportunity to catch up on some chores you might have been neglecting at home. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many riders who board their horses are not able to visit the barn, so hopefully crossing these tasks off your list now will free you up for more saddle time in the future.

Here are three things you can do to pass the time at home — and still stay productive.

  1. Plan for Your Horse’s Future.

It’s not a situation that any horse owner wants to think about, but it is a good to have a plan for your horse in case something happens to you. One thing you can do is add your horse to your will. There are many different things to consider for this, so your first step might be to get in touch with an attorney who can walk you through the process. They might recommend establishing a trust for your horse in connection with the planning for your will and/or estate.

Consider choosing an attorney who specializes in equine law – they have the advantage of being more familiar with the horse world and have an understanding of the costs, obligations, and goals associated with leaving your horse with someone else upon your death. Plus, they can help walk you through some scenarios that you can stipulate in your will, such as if your horse is to be sold (and by whom), donated, or will live at a specified retirement facility. Being able to have a set plan in place for the future will give you peace of mind.

  1. Organize Your Horse’s Medical Records.

If you are like many horse owners, you might store all your horse’s medical records, farrier invoices, and barn paperwork in a binder, folder, or even a giant stack on your desk. Now is a great time to eliminate all that paper clutter and have a better organization system.

You could consider going digital and utilizing handy tools or apps that make organizing and accessing your horse’s important health information more accessible. There are many different types of programs available, and some also allow you to sync your horse’s US Equestrian records with their profile. These types of digital systems would be exceptionally useful if you have multiple horses as well.

Whatever system you decide to use to organize your records, whether it’s a fresh, color-coded binder, or an app on your phone, it will save you from feeling stressed and frustrated when you’re looking for an important document in the future. If you plan to ever sell or insure your horse, you will need to have the most accurate and current information available on your horse’s medical history for the buyer or insurance provider.

  1. Build Your Business.

If you’re a professional in the industry, now might be a good time to work on your business. Perhaps you’ve thought about putting together a syndication for one of your horses but you’re not sure how to do it. Maybe you’ve been planning to reach out to some potential sponsors, or you’d like to work out some collaborative opportunities with other members of the equestrian industry. Take the time to do some research, brainstorm new ideas for your business, network with other professionals, and seek help when you need it.

Do you already have a website and social media accounts created for your farm or business? Go through them and make sure they’re up to date. Are your latest show results included? Is all of your contact information accurate? Perhaps think about starting a blog to share news with your clients and sponsors to keep them informed.

Also, you might want to take the time to review any business paperwork such as release forms for riders, boarding agreements, and operational and safety policies at your farm. Do any of them need to be updated? Now is a great time to review those documents and make sure they’re accurate, current, and legal.

Hopefully, you can knock out some of these tedious tasks now while you are stuck at home so that you will have more time to enjoy your horse later.

Visit www.equestriancounsel.com to learn more or email info@equestriancounsel.com with inquiries.

USEF

USEF Update on COVID-19: Suspension Extended through May 31

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We continue to carefully monitor the COVID-19 Pandemic situation and the position of health experts, including the CDC and other public health authorities.  It appears that in several areas of the country, restrictions put in place by State Governors, such as the “stay-at-home” orders, are making a positive difference.  Federal, state, and local governments are discussing plans for re-opening the environment in the near future.  However, this will not occur overnight and will very likely consist of a graduated easing of restrictions over several weeks, which may vary greatly state-to-state, as well as within the states themselves.

The success of these plans is predicated on a mindful and responsible approach to easing restrictions while also maintaining best practices that we have all learned and adopted in order to reduce exposure to and transmission of the COVID-19 virus.  Once USEF competitions resume, we must all continue to support and maintain these best practices as part of our daily activities to help prevent further disruptions to our lives.  We hope that resumption of competition comes soon.

With that in mind, the suspension of all USEF owned and named events, selection trials, training camps, clinics, and activities is being extended through May 31, 2020. This suspension also includes points, scores, money won, qualifications, or rankings toward any USEF award programs, USEF owned and named events, or selection to a US team including USEF National Championships.  Upon the expiration of this suspension, competitions must comply with requirements issued by USEF for operating sport horse competitions in this environment.

Collaborating with competition organizers, affiliate leaders, and other industry experts, USEF has been developing competition protocols for safely operating competitions and mitigating the risks associated with COVID-19.  Once finalized, we will be providing all competition organizers with these protocols as well as other risk mitigation tools for their use.  These tools and resources will also be front-facing on our website and accessible by all members and website visitors.

We have been working on amendments to qualification and selection processes for numerous USEF owned and named events as well as how USEF HOTY awards and ranking lists are calculated.  We have started announcing modifications that will make the process as fair as possible for all participants, despite the disruption to the competition year and the likelihood of a staggered regional start-up.

We have received inquiries as to whether USEF will grant exemptions to the junior competitor age restrictions, equine age restrictions, and equine eligibility restrictions based on competitive experience.  While these topics are being discussed, it is still too early to make definitive conclusions regarding these issues.

We will continue to assess the pandemic impact, and we will keep you informed of any updates to our position as circumstances warrant or as instructed by the government and public health authorities.

The safety and welfare of our members and their horses must continue to be our top priority.

William J. Moroney
Chief Executive Officer

From the US Equestrian Communications Department

Equinium Sports Mktg., Eventing/H.T.

Faith Eventing Spring to Summer Cross Training during COVID-19

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Genevieve Faith and Burned You Too.

Annandale, MN (April 24, 2020) – With spring on the horizon and the show season in limbo, Faith Eventing is applying the meaning behind their namesake to its training programs: having faith in the future. Earmarked by an upbeat outlook and a resolute conviction to her passion, Genevieve Faith, who founded Faith Eventing in 2015, is beginning to look towards the summer show season and preparing her own horses and clients’ for whatever June, July, and August may hold. While adhering to social distancing and the highest safety standards in her own home base and at client barns, Faith Eventing has begun a spring to summer cross training.

As an experienced Intermediate/CCI-3-star competitor, Faith has built relationships with owners and trainers between her training and teaching schedule in Minnesota and Florida. Her philosophy focuses on accentuating a horse’s strong points while providing support and confidence in new or problematic areas, which has yielded success in all three phases. Her own horses include those she has trained herself through the FEI divisions, and she specializes in troubleshooting issues with young, green, or rehabbing horses, as well as those just transitioning to eventing, new disciplines, or coming off the track. Her own mare, Burned You Too (aka Maggie) came to Faith as a 4-year-old off the track and has developed into an exceptional Advanced eventing prospect.

With COVID-19 looming over all human and horse interactions, Faith has revamped her training structure to include video and other digital mediums to stay in touch with clients, as well as training packages to provide the most value. Tune ups, maintenance rides, or progressive training in dressage, show jumping, or cross country: Faith Eventing’s menu of training options has something for any horse.

“We’ve already been essentially quarantined for the past month at my barn,” said Faith. “While haul-in lessons aren’t really viable, I’ve made a point of being extra careful when riding at any 3rd party barns, bringing new horses in for training, or just riding in general as now is not a good time to take up hospital resources. But keeping the horses fit and happy is an important part of the balance; whether it’s just to stretch their legs or to work in the indoor as they’ve been cooped up all winter, it’s great for their mental and physical health. We are looking forward to getting back to the wide-open spaces.”

Based out of Annandale, Minnesota, Genevieve Faith has racked up an impressive list of success as an aspiring international eventer. Founding Faith Eventing in 2014, she purchased her main campaign horse, Burned You Too (aka Maggie) as a 4-year-old and trained the mare herself, with direction from Olympic and international equestrians. Genevieve was a working student for 1988 Olympian Jane Sleeper in 2014, and was also part of the Junior Development Rider Program (JDRP) with Olympian Becky Holder from 2011 to 2016. Genevieve has studied and trained with William Fox-Pitt, Janet Foy, Kama Godek, Lucinda Green, J. P. Sheffield, Leslie Law, Jon Holling, Alison Springer, Holly Payne-Caravella, Tik Manyard, Bobby Meyeroff, Natalia Martin, and Rachel McDonough. She and Maggie have competed through the Intermediate Level with plans to make her Advanced debut in 2020. With a steady clientele of owners and students, Genevieve splits her time between Minnesota and Ocala, Florida.

For more information on Faith Eventing, visit www.FaithEventing.com.

Media contact:
holly@equinium.com
www.equinium.com

FEI

FEI Sports Forum Online Session Content Available Now

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The FEI Anti-Doping Rules for both human and equine athletes, which are being revised in 2020 for implementation on 1 January 2021, are now available online on the FEI Sports Forum 2020 hub.

All the relevant materials for the FEI Anti-Doping Rules sessions are published here.

As previously announced, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the FEI has completely stripped back the FEI Sports Forum 2020 in order to address the time sensitive topics and defer the themes which can and should be discussed at a later stage.

The remaining sessions on the original Sports Forum programme, which included logistics and preparation around Tokyo 2020; Minimum Requirements; the Status of Grooms; and the Role of the Coach, have all been moved to the Sports Forum 2021.

Media contact:

Shannon Gibbons
Media Relations and Communications Manager
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 4

*Featured/Spotlights

Days End Farm Horse Rescue: Planning for the Future

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As Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR) navigates through our sixth week under strict quarantine restrictions, our staff continues to push through, thanks to our community of supporters. We are so grateful to everyone who has donated or reached out to see how they could help and if we are okay. The horses are all being well taken care of and are oblivious to the crisis unfolding around them.

Because of your support, DEFHR is able to react in the face of emergencies such as COVID-19 and quickly enact policies and procedures to protect the health of our staff and horses. Days End Farm is currently caring for 80 horses, including seven critically ill mares. Your support allows us to prepare for the weeks ahead, with the promise that we will do everything we can to help horses in need. Every horse in this video is currently in our care and every transformation is made possible because of our loyal supporters. Thank you for fighting alongside us. Together we will get through this.

Click here to donate to our COVID-19 Preparedness Fund.

Days End Farm Horse Rescue – www.DEFHR.org

*Featured/Spotlights, Royal Windsor Horse Show

Virtual Windsor 2020 Receives Thousands of Entries from around the World

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Following the cancellation of Royal Windsor Horse Show due to COVID-19, the Organisers of the Show have put an innovative solution in place: Virtual Windsor 2020, an online platform that merges virtual competition with e-commerce and social media.  Virtual Windsor has already generated an astounding number of entries to its online Showing classes, which are taking place at the same time as the usual competitions at the Show.

Across all classes, there have already been 3,122 entries from all corners of the globe, demonstrating the willingness of the worldwide equestrian family to pull together and celebrate their passion virtually (a ‘normal’ Royal Windsor would receive around 2,300 entries to its Showing classes). The classes will be judged by Chief Showing Steward, Nigel Hollings, with expertise also provided by John Peacock and Linda Lawrance.

Alan Titchmarsh, Royal Windsor Horse Show Member, celebrated gardener, and television presenter, has joined in with the spirit of the event and is set to judge the fancy dress competition, which has already had some very creative entries. He joins a line-up of judges who have been selected for their expert knowledge, and who have previous experience at top Showing events.

Frances Hampson-Jones has entered her trusted partner, Holliday, in the Ridden Senior Horse or Pony. Their combined horse and rider age is 90 years old – quite a feat! Other heartwarming stories include the 27-year-old horse Sweet William, who has – despite health issues – competed at Royal Windsor every year since he was 16 in the Senior Horse or Pony classes, which he continues to contest virtually this year.

Emma Tovey, owner of Sweet William, said: “Royal Windsor is a very special show to us, and we will miss it enormously this year, but I’m pleased to be able to enter the virtual version. Bring on 2021 and thank you for coming up with a way to keep our spirits up!”

Elsewhere, the line-up includes racehorse Saint Are – five-time runner in the Grand National, including a second placing in 2015 – who is entered in the Retraining of Racehorses class, with his owners hoping to win one of the prestigious Royal Windsor rosettes.

Simon Brooks-Ward, Show Director, said: “It’s a great shame that Royal Windsor Horse Show couldn’t go ahead as planned; however, Virtual Windsor 2020 has been phenomenally popular, showing that everyone can come together during these tough times. The amount of entries we have received has been astonishing, with the variety and level of competition extremely high. We want to thank everyone who has supported Virtual Windsor 2020 so far and look forward to what is set to be an exciting Championships taking place on 17 May 2020.”

Virtual Windsor 2020 was also created to support the shops that the show houses each year, many of whom are independent traders. The online show has now welcomed more than 190 brands, with some of them displaying their wares at “Royal Windsor” for the first time this year. Many have selflessly contributed to the NHS however they can, with Hayfield England producing a beautiful hat pin in blue and white feathers to raise money for the NHS; Thermatex colleagues making scrubs bags for NHS employees; and the owner of Bella Singleton – a luxury clothing designer specialising in silk products – creating face masks available to the general public.

The Royal Windsor Horse Show community has shown an admirable ability to seamlessly transfer into the “Virtual World”, with more than 50,000 page views on the Virtual Windsor 2020 platform, coupled with all Royal Windsor related social media pages growing exponentially. As well as this, Virtual Windsor 2020 continues to grow the content platform. Interviews with a golden list of equestrian stars, including Ros Canter, Martin Fuchs, and Daniel Naprous, videos of unforgettable Royal Windsor Horse Show moments of the past, top tips on horse care and nutrition, as well as a new series including Royal Windsor judges will all be uploaded in the coming days and weeks.

Entries for Virtual Windsor 2020 will remain open until Friday 1 May 2020 with shortlists of each class to be announced on Friday 8 May 2020. Classes will be judged during Show week with final winners progressing to the Championships being judged on Sunday 17 May 2020.

VIRTUAL WINDSOR 2020 can be found at virtual.rwhs.co.uk.

For more information, please contact:
Gayle Jenkins / rEvolution / gjenkins@revolutionworld.com / +44 (0)203 176 0355

Community/Charity

Double H Farm Encourages South Florida Community to Support A Different Shade of Love

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Cayce Harrison and Quentin Judge of Double H Farm with Francky Pierre Paul of A Different Shade of Love.

Wellington, Fla. – Apr. 20, 2020 – As COVID-19 (coronavirus) continues to affect the equestrian community, some generous equine professionals are seeking ways to take advantage of the downtime due to a lack of competitions in order to give back. Quentin Judge and Cayce Harrison of Double H Farm are currently based out of their Wellington, Fla. home, and were recently introduced to local charity, A Different Shade of Love. After joining forces with their friends Sheila Motley and Mat Allen of The Clubhouse, a popular restaurant in the Palm Beach Polo & Country Club, Judge and Harrison have been calling on their equestrian colleagues and the local South Florida community to support A Different Shade of Love as the organization works to support the homeless community during this challenging time.

After seeing a story about A Different Shade of Love on the local news, Harrison connected with her friend, Motley, to inquire about joining forces to help provide meals for the homeless. Additionally, Harrison and Judge reached out to friends and Camping World for tent donations and successfully accrued more than 40 tents so far to provide shelter for those that need it.

“I’m so humbled to have found A Different Shade of Love and to be able to participate in furthering their mission. Although times are hard for many of us right now, they are particularly tough for those who do not have easy access to some basic necessities,” commented Harrison. “I was inspired by Francky Pierre Paul’s enthusiasm for the good work he and his team are doing and knew that my family, friends, and I were equipped to help. Providing meals and tents is not a complicated task, but the good it does is far reaching. We are off to a great start but are hoping to include more support from the community!”

A Different Shade of Love is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization “that believes that every person, regardless of their economic situation deserves to be treated with dignity, shown respect, and is given a second chance at living a meaningful and normal life.” The mission of the organization is to provide quality clothing, shoes, and other supportive services to the homeless and families in need and to promote proper hygiene, which has been made particularly difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic. With thousands of homeless individuals in Palm Beach County alone, A Different Shade of Love faces a daunting task without public support and donations.

“We were introduced to A Different Shade of Love and their cause through Cayce and Quentin, who worked with us to provide the first meal delivery. Their excitement about getting involved and supporting those in need was contagious, and we are anxious to continue the deliveries as well as grow the donations,” commented Sheila Motley, co-founder of The Clubhouse at PBPCC. “We were so inspired by the work Francky Pierre-Paul was taking on himself and the gratitude from the members of Tent City [a homeless community in Lake Worth, Fla.] that it was easy to work to secure donations. We’ve received an incredible amount of support as well as new tents from Camping World to give shelter for those in need. It’s been really inspiring to have so many friends of The Clubhouse reach out. We hope we’re doing a little part to help the world heal during this unprecedented time.”

Since finances are tight for those experiencing and combatting homelessness during normal times, and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Clubhouse offered the first round of full meals for only $5 per person. On the day of the first delivery, 120 meals were provided to the homeless and, in just the next 48 hours, funds were raised for 1,500 more meals thanks to the generosity of the friends and supporters of The Clubhouse in order to keep up with the growing need for those who depend on A Different Shade of Love.

“We all face a time in life where certain situations knock us on our butts. Unfortunately, sometimes some people find it harder than others to pick themselves back up. I chose to serve a population that tends to get looked over because the perspective is that they are lazy and refuse to work or they are bums, alcoholics, and lack a sense of direction. I started A Different Shade of Love to show their perspective and to share their stories,” noted Francky Pierre Paul, Founder and CEO of A Different Shade of Love. “Homelessness is not just physical; it is also mental. In order to understand one’s perspective, you have to be willing to open up your heart and lend an ear so you can allow their stories to speak to you. The goal is to reach out and provide a reason to live again. One day we will start to house each and every individual we come across, but until then, we will continue to speak life into those who feel like they have lost it a long time ago.”

Double H Farm would like to encourage all who have the means to do so to join them in their mission to provide for the homeless in support of A Different Shade of Love. To donate to the organization directly and be eligible for a tax write-off, please visit www.adifferentshadeoflove.org. If you would prefer to donate directly to The Clubhouse for meal preparation, please email info@theclubhousepbpcc.com or call 561-660-3300 during business hours, which are 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.