Over the past few weeks, we’ve all watched the COVID-19 coronavirus escalate from faraway outbreak to worldwide pandemic. As the virus spread throughout the United States, recommendations have taken an increasingly serious tone.
On March 16, the president’s coronavirus task force briefed U.S. citizens on the country’s response to the pandemic, recommending against gatherings of 10 or more people for the next 15 days. Along with changes in our daily routines, the urging spurred changes in our equestrian participation. Many events were canceled; others postponed.
For your convenience, TheHorse.com brings you the latest on major equine events canceled in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Organizations
United States Pony Club (USPC) — All USPC-sponsored events are suspended for 30 days beginning March 18.
United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) — All USEF-owned events, selection trials, training camps, clinics, and activities are suspended for 30 days beginning March 16. USEF also recommends that organizers of USEF-licensed competitions suspend those events and that equestrians do not compete during that time. Points, scores, money won, qualifications, and rankings toward any USEF award programs, USEF-owned event, or selection to a U.S. team — including USEF National Championships—will not be accumulated during this time.
United States Dressage Federation (USDF) —As of March 18, USDF has suspended accepting sores from USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized competitions through April 15.
United States Eventing Association (USEA) — Recognition of events is suspended through May 3, effective March 14
United States Hunter-Jumper Association (USHJA) — All recognized events are suspended for 30 days beginning March 16.
Events
Adequan Global Dressage Festival — Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, Wellington, Florida. Final two weeks (March 16-29) canceled
American National Riding Commission (ANRC) National Equitation Championships — April 9-11, Littlestown, Pennsylvania, canceled
American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) —
AQHA Hall of Fame and Museum closed until April 1
2020 American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup — July 3-12, 2020, canceled
2020 All American Quarter Horse Congress – September 29 – October 25, canceled
2020 AQHA Select World Championship – August 31 – September 6, canceled
Arabian Breeders World Cup — April 8-11, Las Vegas, Nevada, canceled
Burlington Capital International Omaha — May 7-10, CHI Heath Center, Omaha, Nebraska, canceled for 2020
Badminton Horse Trials — May 6-10, 2020, United Kingdom, canceled
Carolina International CCI & HT — March 19-22, Carolina Horse Park, Raeford, North Carolina, canceled
Commonwealth National Horse Show — April 15-19, HITS Commonwealth Park in Culpeper, Virginia, canceled
Del Mar National Horse Show — April 14-May 3 in Del Mar, California, canceled
Equine Affaire — April 2-5, Ohio Expo Center, Columbus, Ohio, canceled
Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo — March 3-22, NRG Park, Houston, Texas, canceled
Keeneland — Spring Meet (April 2-24) and April Sale (April 7), Lexington, Kentucky, canceled
Kentucky Derby — Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky, postponed from May 2 until Sept. 5
Longines FEI Endurance World Championships, San Rossore, Pisa, Italy, postponed to May 2021
Longines Global Champions Tour & Global Champions League — April 2-4, Miami, Florida, postponed
National Reined Cow Horse Stallion Stakes — March 27-April 4, Las Vegas, postponed until further notice
2020 Thoroughbred Makeover and Symposium – postponed until October 12-17, 2021.
Thoroughbred Classic Horse Show — March 21-22, Galway Downs, Temecula, California, postponed until further notice
Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games — Rescheduled for July 23 – August 8, 2021
Winter Equestrian Festival — Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, Wellington, Florida, canceled