International Dressage Shows Worldwide Closed for at Least a Month, Impacts Olympic Preparations

Most of the world’s international horse shows on Monday began coronavirus-triggered cancellations and suspensions for four weeks but closures could stretch well into May as a handful of events have already announced they will not be held. As with most sports, the pandemic will have a major impact on preparations for the Olympics in Tokyo scheduled for the end of July.

The last show to be completed before the closures recommended by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) was the Adequan Global Dressage Festival CDIO3* Nations Cup and other CDI divisions at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida.

The U.S. Equestrian Federation announced even tougher steps, suspending all USEF-owned events, selection trials, training camps, clinics, and activities for the next 30 days in addition to “strongly” recommending organizers suspend all licensed competitions across the country for the next 30 days.

Please click here to read the rest of the article as it appears on the Dressage News website.

Article written By KENNETH J. BRADDICK