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.
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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.

Leading UK events have rallied around ERA's fundraising efforts and have pledged their support for EFRA, BlazeAid and Buy A Bale.

Blenheim International Horse Trials has had a long association with our Southern Hemisphere competitors, not only via the reigning champion, Chris Burton.

“Eventing is such a 'community' sport and like members of the Eventing Riders Association we are keen to do what we can. Blenheim Horse Trials are owned by British Eventing who usually invest any event profits back into the sport for the benefit of members. British Eventing have kindly agreed to let us make a significant donation to the Equestrian Fire Relief Australia Fund, as well as tickets to our 2020 event to help further their fundraising efforts. We hope a huge sum can be raised for this urgent cause and encourage everyone to give what they can.” – Mandy Hervieu, Event Director 
 
“The Eventing Riders Association wants to extend a huge thank you to Mandy and her team at Blenheim Horse Trials for their generosity in supporting our charitable event.  Blenheim’s historic links to down-under eventing by previously hosting the Asia-Pacific Championships, as a qualifier for the 2004 Athens Olympic, shows just how close knit our eventing community is.
 
“Blenheim is a truly global and fantastic event for the whole of the eventing community, and as riders we really appreciate their support and investment in our sport.  We know their investment will be repaid through the loyalty of riders to this top-class event.” Bruce Haskell, ERA President.

The event has made a significant donation to the fundraising effort in addition to donating 40 tickets to the auction and raffle, with the aim of raising further funds.

Bede Events, run by Australian Stuart Buntine, has provided a hospitality table for 8 at the new 'Spring Eventing Carnival' hosted at the spectacular new Thoresby Park venue.  The table will be hosted by eventing legend Lucinda Green during the Grantham Cup.  Musketeer Events and Burghley Horse Trials have also pledged hospitality and membership packages to support the fundraising efforts.

The Australia Day organising team have been overwhelmed by the level of support show to the auction with prizes from gallops passes, Cheltenham Festival tickets, eventing sports memorabilia and an incredibly generous donation of a Bates Saddle, associated accessories and numerous autographed items from the Australian saddlery brand.

Please do visit our online auction and support where you can. 

Last night saw another horse and rider inducted in the Eventing Riders Association (ERA) International Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials Hall of Fame. In the relaxed atmosphere of the rider’s lounge at Burghley, competing riders gathered for the social occasion, once again supported by Shearwater Insurance.

In a change to previous years, the Eventing Riders Association (International) welcomed nominations from riders, owners and the general public for this year’s horse and rider inductees.  Taking an overwhelming majority was former world number 1 and leading British rider, Oliver Townend, with his 2017 winner Ballaghmor Class leading the nominations for the equine athletes.

A surprised and grateful Oliver Townend accepted the award, presented by Shearwater Insurance Managing Director Jeremy Lawton, and delivered a speech filled with emotion and humour.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you.  I’m amazed and very grateful.  There are probably only five people in the sport that really know me, and the others in the sport probably don’t like me, so I really am very grateful” said Oliver, to laughs and applause from the crowd.

The 2009 and 2017 winner went on to thank friend, and owner, Karyn Shuter for her years of support, and Angela Hislop, among other owners. Alongside owner Angela Hislop, Oliver has had 6 runners at CCI5* level of which they have never finished outside of the top two, showing what an incredible rider, he is and the partnership he has with the horses and owners.

“The whole team (who make this happen) are very very special. There are a whole host of people that most of you wouldn’t recognise.  They’ve been there for 9 or 10 years and they are always there at 6 o’clock in the morning, and I couldn’t do it without them.”

Rounding off his speech, a humbled Townend added:
“I’m not very good at looking like things matter but this recognition matters more to me than any of you could ever imagine.  So thank you!”

Ballaghmor Class won The Land River Burghley Horse Trials in 2017 on his CCI5* debut and finished second in 2018.  Owners Val Ryan, Angela Hislop and Karyn Shuter joined Oliver to receive the award on his behalf.
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Oliver and Ballagmor Class now join the likes of Andrew Nicholson and Avebury, William Fox-Pitt, Sir Mark Todd, Pippa Funnell, Lenamore, Shear L’eau and Happy Times as members of the Burghley Hall of Fame.