Aachen, the world’s most prominent horse show, will not be held in early June as scheduled. The organizers of the German show, which includes jumping, dressage, eventing and driving, say they will be looking at a date later in the year to run the competition.Aachen draws competitors from all over the world, who won’t be able to be there under the current circumstances, which may well last into the summer.
The Tryon Equestrian Center also has stopped all competition until mid-May, as per the orders of the North Carolina governor.
The Horse Park of New Jersey has closed until April 13, according to Adam Furlong, president of the park’s board of trustees.
“We do not take this decision lightly; but we recognize our social responsibility to be part of `flattening the curve,’ he stated.
“As a result of the guidelines provided by the USEF, FEI, and local and state officials, we have seen almost all equestrian events cancelled for the foreseeable future. As such, we must temporarily cease operations in order to be fiscally responsible and to ensure the safety of all those who use the park. It is our sincere hope that everyone will do their part in reducing the spread of COVID-19, and that will be able to return to operations in one month.
“The Board will work diligently with all impacted events to find suitable alternative dates when it is safe to operate those events.”
In other virus-related changes and closings:
Tack sales scheduled for the weekend of March 28 at Riding for Heart in Pittstown and April 4 at Mane Stream Therapeutic Riding in Oldwick are being postponed. Riding with Heart doesn’t have a date yet, but Mane Stream will be combining the spring sale with its autumn sale.
Meanwhile, the New Jersey Region Pony Club has reshuffled its schedule of events.
The Quiz Rally originally scheduled for March 14 in Goshen, N.Y., was cancelled and will be rescheduled before June 22, the closing date for entries for the U.S. Pony Club Championships and Festival in July at the Kentucky Horse Park.
The April 5 dressage schooling show originally scheduled to be held at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone, is being moved to the Horse Park of New Jersey. The new date is May 30. The May 17 Dressage Rally (open just to Pony Club members) has been rescheduled and moved from the USET to the Horse Park of New Jersey. The new date is April 25, sharing the weekend with the show jumping rally already scheduled for April 26 at the HPNJ.
Manhattan Saddlery is not open for in-person shopping, but will accept orders by phone and internet. Dover Saddlery remains open, but check hours. It is offering curbside pickup.
Further from home, the New Zealand Equestrian Federation has shut down the Olympics disciplines, para and endurance for three months. They’ll take another look at the end of April, however.