The following is a direct, and open, communication from the FEI:

Dear National Federations,

As a follow-up to our last communication on the recommendations from the World Health Organisation (WHO) regarding Mass Gatherings and the necessity of Event Organisers to conduct a full risk assessment together with local authorities, the spread of the Coronavirus Covid-19 has taken a rapid turn for the worse and sport worldwide is affected.

We as a community have to make our contribution to limit the spread of this virus, as the sooner it can be contained the sooner we will be able to get back to normal life and normal sport. And this is something that every other sport is doing.

The FEI appreciates the amount of work and incredible investment every Organiser puts into their Event. While the FEI does not itself organise any FEI Events, in light of the escalating numbers of persons affected by the virus and the restrictions imposed by national governments, the FEI strongly recommends that Organisers should cancel all events for the next four weeks until a reassessment of the situation can be made.

The FEI and Board will work together with the International Equestrian Organisers Alliance to evaluate what can be done to try and accommodate dates for Events that have been impacted during this period. However, we are aware that this is no simple matter, as clearly no single Organiser can be favoured to the detriment of others, and the FEI does not know how many Events will be impacted nor how long the current situation will last.

The FEI has already decided that Calendar fees for events that have had to be cancelled because of Covid-19 will be waived. We are also assessing the impact of cancellations of Events on other areas such as ranking points and on athletes and horses seeking MERs for the Olympic or Paralympic Games and qualifications for FEI Championships.

We can guarantee you that the FEI is monitoring the situation hour-by-hour and that we are constantly looking at what specific situations need to be addressed.
Our thoughts are with all of you and we strongly believe that our community will do the right thing and work to support each other through this crisis.
​
Kind regards,
Corporate & Internal Communications Team
Communications Department

Event Rider Masters has conducted a full risk assessment of the rapidly evolving Coronavirus Covid-19 situation in line with the recommendations of the relevant health authorities in order to evaluate whether the health and safety of all ERM Staff, Contractors, Organisers, Volunteers, Riders and Rider’s Staff can be assured.

The ERM 2020 series is spread over 3 countries, all of whom are currently affected by Covid-19 and involves a production team of 60 people travelling from 6 different countries. The ERM Riders throughout each season represent at least 20 different nations. The logistics of moving the multinational production team from venue to venue is impossible to implement in a manner that has an acceptable risk level.

As a result of this assessment, it is clear that there are too many risks associated with conducting the ERM Series this year and regrettably ERM has made the decision to cancel the 2020 Series. 

Currently all individual host venue events: Burnham Market, Chatsworth, Arville and Jardy are planning on running their own events.

The commercial partners and backers of ERM are committed to making the series run in 2021.