The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association’s national championship show has been cancelled for the second time, due to Covid 19, as the organization’s board made the decision to follow the same protocol as in 2020 “with the safety and well-being of the membership in mind,”
IHSA Executive Director Peter Cashman cited the increasing numbers connected with the pandemic, which also led to scrapping the 10,000-member group’s entire post-season, including the Hunt Seat Zone Finals and Western Semi-Finals.
“With the ongoing pandemic and numbers on the rise, the board voted with the safety and well-being of the membership in mind,” said Peter Cashman, IHSA executive director. “We understand how disappointing it is to membership, many who have been unable to compete this academic year.”
The championship show is usually scheduled for early May.
“The board has agonized over this situation that has forced us to decide to cancel the IHSA postseason for the second consecutive year. We look forward with the hopes that the vaccine will prevent the spread and allow the country to relax restrictions and allow the schools to resume competition in the fall,” the executive director said.
IHSA will offer two online horse shows through DigitalHorseShow.com during the spring semester. The Inaugural IHSA Online Horse Show was successfully held during the 2020 fall semester, providing an opportunity for those members and teams who continue to ride and practice to compete across the membership. The spring events will again be open to all IHSA undergraduate and alumni members and will include a horsemanship element. Show dates and prize lists will be available soon.
The board of directors will present a live webinar on the state of the IHSA on Tuesday, Jan. 19.