Following last week’s communiqué to National Federations on the recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding mass gatherings and the necessity of event organizers to conduct a full risk assessment together with local authorities, the FEI has issued a further message to the equestrian community:
“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 organizer puts into their event. While the FEI does not itself organize 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 organizers 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 Organizers Alliance to evaluate what can be done to try and accommodate dates for events that have been impacted during this period."
“We are aware that this is no simple matter, as clearly no single organizer can be favored to the detriment of others, and we do not know how many events will be impacted nor how long the current situation will last."
“We have 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 we are 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.”
Are you following along with the action from home this weekend? Or maybe you're competing at an event and need information fast. Either way, we’ve got you covered!
The USEA is saddened to share the passing of Helena "Lana" Allaire duPont Wright. Wright of Chesapeake City, Maryland, passed away peacefully at home on April 23, 2025, at the age of 85.
Another record-breaking championship year for the USEA Intercollegiate and Interscholastic eventing programs is set to kick off tomorrow in Aiken, South Carolina, at Stable View, and the USEA can't wait to meet the students there! The second edition of the combined USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships has yet again proven that next year's inaugural standalone championships are exactly what the students are craving, with a remarkable 225 entries set to compete on 59 teams this weekend. Keeping reading for all that you need to know about the event!
Debbie Hinkle has long been a staple of the eventing community in Area VIII. While she hasn’t spent her entire life on a farm, she first started riding farm horses and volunteering at farm shows.