Although the 2020 Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event was postponed from its original date next month, the event’s Organizing Committee found after looking at alternative dates that rescheduling the event is not possible for this year.

“When the crisis caused by the coronavirus made it impossible to hold our event as scheduled, we looked into possible dates where we could hold it later in the year,” said Morgan Rowsell, co-organizer of Jersey Fresh.

“However, no suitable date was possible and it simply is not going to work out. Unfortunately, we will not be able to hold the event this year. Without the Olympics (Jersey was an observation trial for the U.S. Olympic team), without a reason to do the 4-star, you’re not going to necessarily get a lot of riders. You can’t bring the sponsors in without a lot of hoopla; you can’t have hoopla without a lot of riders. It’s unfortunate, so we’ll just circle our wagons and make a big deal out of next year,” said Morgan..

Top rider Will Coleman was a regular at the Jersey Fresh International event. (Photo © 2019 by Nancy Jaffer)

The Saumur event in France found itself in the same position as Jersey Fresh. After deciding it couldn’t run May 21-24, it is hoping to postpone, but is still looking for the right date in the “second semester” of 2020, as it also prepares its 2021 edition as a qualifying event for the Olympics..

Jersey Fresh had been scheduled to take place at the Horse Park of New Jersey, May 6-10. Featured would have been CCI Four-Star and Three-Star divisions featuring top eventing horses and riders in addition to a new Preliminary Division for future stars in the sport.

“With the Olympics also moved to next year, we anticipate our event holding its usual place of significance on the eventing calendar,” added Morgan.

“We thank all our sponsors – especially major sponsors B.W. Furlong & Associates, Zoetis, AIG and Boehringer Ingelheim – for their support and we look forward to returning with a great event in 2021!”

An event is also planned for the end of June at the Horse Park of New Jersey, which is shuttered for the time being. The Jersey Fresh International Three-Day Event/Horse Park of New Jersey is a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit, Charitable and Educational organization. Further information about JFI is available at www.jfi3d.com. Further information about the Horse Park is available at www.horseparkofnewjersey.com.

Meanwhile, the Mars Equestrian Essex Horse Trials at Moorland Farm in Far Hills, is still on for July, a new date for the fixture which previously was held in June. Rowsell, who is also co-chair of Essex, said any changes would be up to the board, which doesn’t meet until May.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he anticipates the statewide lockdown going on into June, but didn’t say anything yet about July.