Tag Archives: coronavirus

IHSA to Cancel Remainder of Season

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – March 12, 2020 –The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) executive committee regrets to announce their decision to cancel the remainder of the 2019/2020 competition season. This cancellation applies to all IHSA shows including Zones, Western Semi-Finals, and Nationals. Our top priority is the well-being and safety of all our members. This decision was not made lightly and is based on the latest information concerning the coronavirus (COVID-19).

We recognize the hard work and effort put forward by the membership, the hours of practice, volunteerism, fundraising, and team spirit of the student members and the dedication and leadership of the coaches.

We encourage IHSA members to refer to the CDC website for up-to-date information on the status of the coronavirus and to follow prevention measures and personal care recommendations. Members are also urged to follow the advice of your state and community concerning any specific coronavirus guidelines and travel policies.

We look forward to the IHSA 2020/2021 season.

For more information, go to IHSAinc.com or contact media@IHSAinc.com.

HITS Ocala Taking Steps to Protect Health and Safety of Participants

While there are no reported cases of coronavirus in the Ocala area, out of an abundance of caution and in the best interest of our exhibitors, their horses, and HITS employees, we will close this year’s HITS Ocala Winter Circuit at the end of competition on Sunday, March 15.

“Safety and health come first,” said HITS President and CEO Tom Struzzieri. “Obviously horses can stay on the property following competition on Sunday. Please reach out to HITS staff if you have any special timing needs. All of us at HITS are greatly disappointed with this news, but are happy to be able to make this announcement in a voluntary manner. Riders planning on showing in the Great American $1 Million Grand Prix should stay tuned for an announcement from HITS regarding a replacement competition of equal importance to this unparalleled class.” Looking ahead, we are pleased that Great American has signed on to sponsor the Ocala Million again in 2021.

Riders who have been competing for 2nd-Half and Overall Grand Circuit Champion Awards will be honored this Sunday prior to the $200,000 CaptiveOne Grand Prix.

Through next week and beyond as needed, HITS Staff will remain on-site at Post Time Farm. Feed and bedding will continue to be available. Rings will be maintained for use by riders on-site. Food service and the Horse Show Office will remain open. Those staying in Campers, GenZHomes, or the on-site Houses and Condos are also welcome to stay.

Beginning Friday, March 13, HITS Post Time Farm will be closed to the general public.

HITS will continue to closely monitor the health situation and stay in daily contact with appropriate officials and health experts in Marion County.

For questions or concerns, please contact the staff at HITS Post Time Farm, 352-620-2275 or info@hitsshows.com.

Official Statement from Tryon Resort

Mill Spring, NC – March 13, 2020 – Tryon Resort and Tryon International Equestrian Center are committed to providing the ultimate equestrian lifestyle destination by first and foremost creating a safe, fun experience for our guests and team.

With that intention in mind, we are closely monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and we are getting regular updates from experts in the field as well as consulting with peers through our professional networks and organizations. We are taking extra precautions to ensure the health and safety of all Tryon Resort guests and employees.

In response to the guidelines provided by NC Governor Roy Cooper, Tryon Resort’s March 14th events featuring The Cat in the Hat, Touch A Truck, and Community Yard Sale and the March 21st Viking Dash are cancelled. At this time, all other events on the calendar for this year are still planned to proceed as scheduled. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and make adjustments as needed. We will communicate any additional cancellations as decisions are made.

Tryon Resort restaurants are open! We take cleanliness and hygiene seriously, with rigorous sanitation practices throughout the year. We always implement stringent sanitation of our facility and are proactively implementing additional measures, including:

  • Adding additional hand sanitizing stations throughout the property
  • Sanitizing throughout the property on a daily basis
  • Disinfecting commonly touched surfaces multiple times throughout the day
  • Posting educational materials on CDC guidelines and hygiene procedures at entryways, host areas and throughout all Tryon Resort properties
  • Increased training and reinforcement for our rigorous sanitation standards
  • Adjusting food and beverage service in accordance with current food safety recommendations

Furthermore, we strongly encourage all guests to review the CDC’s website for prevention tips and signs of symptoms before visiting. By working together, we can help prevent the spread of germs and provide a safe experience for everyone visiting Tryon Resort. For our equestrian guests, please visit USEF’s website for resources related to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

We deeply appreciate everyone’s understanding and commitment to keeping our world healthy and safe. We welcome you to visit our restaurants and horse shows. But we respectfully ask that if you are sick, please stay home. We will look forward to seeing you again soon.

Learn more at www.Tryon.com or call 828-863-1000.

Final Two Weeks of Winter Equestrian Festival and Adequan Global Dressage Festival Canceled

In response to the threat of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and recommendations of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the Federation Équestre Internationale (FEI), Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) has made the difficult decision to cancel the remaining two weeks of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) following the close of competition on Sunday, March 15, 2020.

“At the current time the threat is relatively low but after consulting with the USEF and the FEI, we have decided to cancel the final two weeks of competition in an effort to protect all involved with the competition and production at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC),” said Michael Stone, ESP President. “We encourage all members of the equestrian community to operate with an abundance of caution as we all work through this situation.”

“Friday Night Stars,” beginning at 7 p.m. at AGDF, and the $137,000 Horseware Grand Prix CSI3*, taking place at 4 p.m. at WEF, will continue as planned. Both facilities, however, remain closed to the public.

Stabling and access to stalls will be available for those that have purchased stabling packages until the expiration of those packages. ESP can accommodate those in need of stabling during this period. Staff will be available in the horse show office as needed, and a limited number of rings will be maintained for exhibitor use. We will also provide schooling opportunities to ensure that the horses are ready to compete when competition resumes. This is a rapidly changing situation, and we will continue to provide updates through our website at www.PBIEC.com.

Consistent with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Florida Department of Health Guidelines, everyone is encouraged to:

  • Stay home if sick, except to get medical care
  • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw in the trash
  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
  • Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily

For more information, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com and www.PBIEC.com.

FEI World Cup Finals 2020 in Las Vegas Cancelled Due to Coronavirus

Lausanne (SUI), 13 March 2020 – The International Equestrian Federation (FEI), United States Equestrian (USEF), and Las Vegas Events have announced the force majeure cancellation of the FEI World Cup™ Finals 2020 in Las Vegas. The annual equestrian competition, featuring the Olympic disciplines of Jumping and Dressage, was scheduled for 15-19 April at the Thomas & Mack Center.

“It is very regrettable that next month’s FEI World Cup Finals in Las Vegas have had to be cancelled, but the decision was out of our hands,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.

“Since the FEI World Cup series began in 1978 for Jumping and in 1985 for Dressage, the Finals have never had to be cancelled before, but the global concerns about the spread of the virus and the travel restrictions imposed by the US Government have meant that the Finals are one of many major sporting events impacted by this outbreak.

“Like everyone in our community, we are disappointed, not only for the athletes who have qualified for the Finals, but also for Las Vegas Events and US Equestrian, and of course our top partner Longines, but the health, well-being, and safety of our athletes, officials, and our fans has to be our top priority. We hope we can alleviate that disappointment by returning to Las Vegas for a wonderful FEI World Cup Finals in the future.”

All ticket buyers and exhibitors will be issued full refunds. The Las Vegas Events ticket office will contact all ticket holders on the process starting the week of 16 March.

Further information on the FEI World Cup™ Finals 2020 in Las Vegas can be found at www.WorldCupLasVegas.com.

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

COVID-19 Update for Winter Equestrian Festival and Adequan Global Dressage Festival

Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) is working closely with the Village of Wellington, Palm Beach County, and local health services to take extra precautions concerning the threat of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Competition at both the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) will continue as planned through March 29, 2020, with policies in place to protect the health of riders, grooms, owners, and their families. In addition, the ESP Spring Series, running from April 1 through May 10, will run as scheduled with the same health and safety precautions. We will continue monitoring the situation and will follow all State and local recommendations.

In an abundance of caution, we have decided to close the venues to the general public and there will be no general admission. Only cars with an official car pass will be permitted on the venues.

For this week we will hold the $137,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI3* at approximately 4 p.m. in an effort to minimize the number of persons on the grounds. “Friday Night Lights” will continue as scheduled, but without General Admission. The timings for future events will be announced as the situation develops.

During upcoming events at both venues, the following policies will be enacted:

  • Staff will be located around the facilities with hand sanitizer for exhibitor use
  • Food and beverage teams are taking all necessary precautions when handling food and cooking surfaces
  • Extra housekeeping staff has been allotted for more frequent sanitizing of restaurants and restrooms

In accordance with the Florida State Department of Health’s Guidance for Mass Gatherings Protocol, ESP is recommending that anyone in the following situations not attend WEF or AGDF events:

  • Over the age of 65 with underlying health conditions
  • Are immune compromised
  • Are ill
  • Have been exposed to someone with a respiratory illness in the last 14 days
  • Have chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease
  • Have traveled internationally within the last 14 days, especially to a destination under a level 3 travel advisory
  • Have traveled to or from a geographic area with widespread community transmission of COVID-19

Consistent with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Florida Department of Health Guidelines, everyone is encouraged to:

  • Stay home if sick, except to get medical care
  • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw in the trash
  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
  • Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily

“We are monitoring this situation very closely and working diligently with local county and state government agencies to ensure the safety of all spectators, exhibitors, and the general public,” said Mark Bellissimo, ESP CEO. “Our number-one priority is to ensure that all people involved with ESP events remain healthy and safe during this time.”

“We are making these adjustments in an effort to ensure that we can continue to provide the safest environment for our exhibitors and their staff,” said Michael Stone, ESP President. “We will continue to monitor the situation and update our protocols as recommended by the Florida Department of Health and other relevant bodies.”

For more information, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com and www.PBIEC.com.

Public Health Notice for PBIEC Visitors

The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center is taking extra precautions to help you stay healthy during this time of concern posed by the coronavirus (COVID-19). We have reviewed with our employees the recommended precautions listed on the Center for Disease Control website. These precautions are also posted in employee areas of the facility.

Our food handlers and servers are trained on proper hand washing techniques and are wearing gloves when preparing your food. Any employee showing the slightest sign of illness will be sent home and asked to call in prior to their shift. Proper sanitizing methods for surfaces are always used in our food preparation areas.

Although we have a thorough cleaning schedule at the facility, extra housekeeping staff has been allotted for more frequent sanitizing of our restaurants and restrooms. As a further precaution, hand sanitizer has been provided in multiple areas of the facility for exhibitors and spectators. If you are joining us for our Saturday Night Lights events, we will have greeters stationed at each entrance with additional hand sanitizers. In the coming days, fumigators and surface antimicrobial spray will arrive to be used to sanitize all seated areas of the show grounds, including but not limited to the International Arena box seats, stadium seats, International Club, spectator viewing decks, and rider lounges.

We are doing our best to keep our visitors and staff healthy. We appreciate our exhibitors and spectators doing the same for their fellow visitors and staff. Please feel free to call the admin office if you have any concerns or questions at 561-793-5867. For further details, please visit US Equestrian’s resource page here.

Below are the recommended precautions from the CDC website (www.cdc.gov):

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
  • CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
  • Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
  • For information about hand washing, see CDC’s Handwashing
  • For information specific to healthcare, see CDC’s Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings.

These are everyday habits that can help prevent the spread of several viruses. CDC does have specific guidance for travelers.

Equestrian Sport Productions | 561-793-JUMP | news@equestriansport.com | www.PBIEC.com

FEI Sports Forum Moves Online Due to Coronavirus Covid-19

Lausanne (SUI), 6 March 2020 – The FEI has conducted a full risk assessment of the rapidly evolving Coronavirus Covid-19 situation in line with the recommendations of the relevant health authorities in order to evaluate whether the health and safety of delegates at next month’s FEI Sports Forum can be assured.

The FEI Sports Forum involves a gathering of multiple persons travelling from all over the globe and, while delegates may be healthy on departure from their country of origin, they are at risk of in-transmit contamination. Additionally, if there were to be a confirmed case of the virus during the Sports Forum, there is insufficient infrastructure and resources to quarantine all participants.

As a result of this assessment, it is absolutely clear that there are too many risks associated with hosting the Sports Forum this year and, regrettably, the FEI has had to make the decision to cancel the in-person event and host the time-sensitive sessions online.

Maintaining the full consultation process is important to us, so we will organise an online FEI Anti-Doping Rules session, including an update on the new WADA Code and on the proposed changes to the Equine Anti-Doping Rules.

The full session on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic & Paralympic Games will also be hosted online, with detailed updates on final venue preparations and logistics, horse transportation, and optimising performance in challenging climatic conditions for both horses and humans.

Other important topics that were initially included in the Sports Forum, events requirements and standards, status of grooms, and coaching, will be addressed at a later stage.

FEI media contacts:

Olga Nikolaou
Media Relations Officer
olga.nikolaou@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 56

Vanessa Martin Randin
Senior Manager, Media Relations & Communications
Vanessa.Randin@fei.org
+ 41 78 750 61 73

Longines Masters of Hong Kong Cancelled

Originally taking place on 14-16 February at the AsiaWorld-Expo, EEM, the founder, owner and organiser of the event, announced that Longines Masters of Hong Kong will not take place. This decision is a precautionary measure following the recent developments in the 2019-nCoV coronavirus outbreak which is currently affecting the city of Hong Kong, Mainland China, and across the APAC region.

“With more than 35,000 people expected from Hong Kong, Asia, and around the world, the safety of our audience, athletes, visitors, exhibitors, service providers, internal teams, as well as that of the horses taking part in the events of the Longines Masters Series, is an absolute priority,” says Christophe Ameeuw, Founder and President of EEM. “Considering the uncertainty surrounding the 2019-nCoV Coronavirus outbreak, and in order to guarantee the welfare of our guests, partners, and stakeholders, it is without hesitation that we decided not to hold the event from 14-16 February 2020. Our loyal partners, which include Longines, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation, DBS Bank, Hong Kong International Airport, AsiaWorld-Expo, the Hong Kong Tourism Office, and TVB Pearl, who have already been informed, showed their understanding and support.”

The riders involved of the Longines Masters of Hong Kong will be contacted individually by EEM in the coming days. Members of the public who have already booked tickets will be reimbursed. Ticket holders can contact Cityline’s customer service hotline at (852) 2314 4228 (Monday through Friday from 10am to 8pm) or visit www.cityline.com. For other enquiries and further information, please call (852) 5984 9936 (office hours are Monday through Friday from 10am to 7pm).

The Longines Masters Series is an intercontinental series of prestigious show jumping competitions, recognised by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). For the past five seasons, the Longines Masters Series included the Longines Masters of Hong Kong, the established Asian leg of the series. Elite riders and horses around the world take part in this Series.

Asia Horse Week Also Cancelled

The third edition of Asia Horse Week, scheduled for 13-16 February at the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong, will not take place. This decision is a result of precautionary measures, in view of the recent developments in the 2019-nCoV Coronavirus outbreak.

“The safety of our delegates, partners, stakeholders, as well as the welfare of the horses from Hong Kong, Asia, and around the world is an absolute priority,” said Raphaël le Masne de Chermont, the Chairman of Asia Horse Week. “With the uncertainty surrounding the 2019-nCoV Coronavirus outbreak, it is without hesitation that we decided not to hold the event from 13-16 February 2020. Our loyal partners, which include the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Longines Masters Series, the International Equestrian Federation, the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation, AsiaWorld-Expo, the Hong Kong Tourism Office, and the Wall Street Journal, who have already been informed, showed their understanding and support.”

Delegates who have already booked tickets will be reimbursed. Ticket holders can contact Cityline’s customer service hotline at (852) 2314 4228 (Monday through Friday from 10am to 8pm) or visit www.cityline.com. For other enquiries and further information, please call (852) 5984 9936 (office hours are Monday through Friday from 10am to 7pm).

The first edition of the Asian Arabian Horse Show, which was to be held as part of Asia Horse Week, is also cancelled.

Launched by EEM in 2018 as an initiative of the Longines Masters Series (Hong Kong, Lausanne, Paris), Asia Horse Week has been designed to bring together key leaders and stakeholders of the global equestrian industry. Its aim is to offer the unique development opportunities in Asia, which offers great potential for the growth of equestrian sports. In 2019, the Asia Horse Week and its conferences had attracted thousands of guests, professionals, experts, riders, owners, and key players in international equine industry.

Daniel Koroloff
daniel@blizko-communication.com