Competitions

Pennsylvania National and Washington International Cancel and Relocate USEF and WIHS Championships

Details: August 15, 2020; By Staff Writers

Harrisburg The Board of Directors and show management teams for the Pennsylvania National Horse Show (PNHS) and Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) have made the difficult decision to cancel their previously announced 2020 events scheduled to be held in Tampa, Fla.

As multiple issues have evolved resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, WIHS found it impossible to successfully host the World Cup Washington for 2020.

While key partners including Longines and Mars Equestrian made every effort to support WIHS during this extremely challenging year in the newly proposed Tampa venue, as the event drew closer the barriers and risks were insurmountable.

PNHS simultaneously determined staging their qualifying hunter/jumper competition as planned was also not viable.

At this time, plans are being made to relocate the Hunter Seat Medal Finals, the Junior Jumper National Championships and the WIHS Championship Finals, pending USEF approval.

The event organizers and USEF are quickly coming together to evaluate options to move the USEF and WIHS year-end junior championship finals to a viable location pending final USEF approval including:

• Show Jumping Talent Search Finals-East
• Hunter Seat Medal Finals
• Junior Jumper National Championships
• WIHS Equitation Finals and WIHS Pony Equitation Finals
• WIHS Children’s and Adult Hunter and Jumper Finals

A decision will be announced on the final location no later than Wednesday, Aug. 19.

WIHS will host the Regional Washington International Horse Show (Regional WIHS) at Morven Park, Leesburg, Va., pending USEF approval and USHJA approval for Zone 3 Finals.

The prize list for this event will be issued in the coming weeks.

PNHS and WIHS are both dedicated to providing the safest and highest-quality competition environment for dedicated members, exhibitors, and their families.

All events will be spectator free.

The show organizers will continuously monitor the COVID-19 status and will adjust or amend shows based on the guidance from federal, state, and other public health officials.

Qualifying criteria, detailed schedules, and prize lists will be updated in the coming week.

For more information on these events, please visit www.panational.org and www.wihs.org.

Jr. Hunter National Championships and the Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic relocated to Michigan

Details: August 10, 2020; By SARA CAVANAGH

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.--Traverse City Horse Shows is the new host of the 2020 Adequan/USEF Junior Hunter National Championships East Coast from Aug. 23 - 25, 2020.

Jr. Htr Ch The 2020 Adequan/USEF Junior Hunter National Championships East Coast will be in Traverse City (Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography)In conjunction with US Equestrian, the decision was made to relocate the event from its previous home in Kentucky in order to avoid cancellation.

The United States Hunter Jumper Association Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic will coincide with the championships on these dates.

The extended three-day timeline of the championship will serve to reduce traffic, with Sunday and Monday featuring the hunter classes while Tuesday will showcase equitation in the USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic.

The Traverse City Horse Shows team will be making good use out of the two weeks they have between the end of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival and the beginning of the Adequan/USEF Junior Hunter National Championships East Coast in order to prepare for participants and appropriately sanitize the venue prior to the start of competition.

Nations Cup Finals, Eventing Championships and more Kentucky Horse Parks competitions join the ever growing parade of cancellations

Details: August 6, 2020; By Staff Writers

BARCELONA, Spain--Multiple cancellations continue, with the Nations Cup Finals in Barcelona and the American Eventing Championships being the lastest victims.

Nations Cup trophyAlso cancelled are the Bluegrass Festival, Aug. 11-16, KHJA, Aug. 19-23, and USEF Junior Hunter National Championship - East Coast, Aug. 23-24, scheduled to take place at the Kentucky Horse Park.

The cancellation of the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona was a joint-decision taken by the International Equestrian Federation, the Spanish National Federation and the Foundation and Board of the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona, longtime host of the Final.

The Barcelona Final was scheduled to be held from Oct. 2-4.

“We have looked at every scenario, including potentially running the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final behind closed doors without spectators, but the combination of the situation in Catalonia and the ongoing international travel restrictions has meant that we have unfortunately been forced to jointly agree that regrettably this year’s Final cannot go ahead in Barcelona, the risks are simply too great”, FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.

“When we announced changes to the rules for the Final back in April, we were cautiously optimistic that even if the series fell victim to the pandemic, we would be able to save the Final in Barcelona, but sadly that has proved impossible.

USHJA Cancels 2020 Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive, International Hunter Derby Championships and AON/USHJA National Championships

Details: August 4, 2020; By Staff Writers

Ky.Horse Park Kentucky Horse ParkThe United States Hunter Jumper Association announced the cancellation of the 2020 Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships and the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship, scheduled for Aug. 11-15 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, and the AON/USHJA National Championships scheduled for Nov. 16-22 in Las Vegas.

The uncertainty of COVID-19 pandemic prevented competitions from safely moving forward.

“The health and safety of our members, staff, volunteers and their families is our priority, and the decision was made by our Board of Directors to cancel these USHJA Championships,” said Mary Babick, USHJA president. “We feel strongly that we must take the necessary steps to help minimize risk and exposure of the COVID-19 virus to ensure our sport can continue in the future. Canceling was a difficult decision, but the Board believes that it was the correct, safe and socially responsible choice.”

Kentucky Horse Shows temporarily canceled due to Covid-19

Details: August 1, 2020; By Staff Writers

LEXINGTON, Ky--Two more individuals have tested positive for COVID-19, after attending the Kentucky Summer Classic, for a total of four reported cases.

Ky.Horse Park Kentucky Horse ParkUS Equestrian and Kentucky Horse Shows prioritize the safety of our members, participants, support teams, staff and their families, so to mitigate the risk of spread of the virus, USEF and the competition organizer together have made the decision to cancel the Kentucky Summer Classic effective at the end of competition today and to cancel the USEF Pony Finals event scheduled to start Tuesday, Aug. 4.

These cancellations will give the competition organizer time to sanitize the venue and determine whether competition can resume later this month.

With regard to the new reports, one individual worked in Barns 9 & 10 with one of the previously reported individuals.

Both of these individuals have been off competition grounds since Friday, July 31.

The other newly reported individual is a braider who worked in multiple barns and has been off the grounds since early this morning.

Per the requirements of the USEF COVID-19 Action Plan, we are notifying all individuals who were in attendance at the competition.

Although contact tracing is primarily the responsibility of public health agencies, in accordance with CDC guidelines we are asking these individuals for the names of others at the competition that they had close contact with starting from 48 hours before their symptoms appeared so that we can inform those persons directly that they may have been exposed to the virus.

The USEA American Eventing Championships to be held Aug. 25-30

Details: July 28, 2020; By SARA CAVANAGH

LEXINGTON, Ky.--The USEA American Eventing Championships will be held Aug. 25-30 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., so for anyone planning to compete, please review the safety measures below that will be in place during the event.

AEC The American Eventing Championships is the pinnacle of the sport for the national levels.

Held annually, the best junior, adult amateur, and professional competitors gather to vie for national championship titles at every level from Beginner Novice to Advanced.

This ultimate test of horse and rider draws hundreds of horses and riders from around the country to compete for fabulous prizes, a piece of the substantial prize money, and the chance to be named the National Champion at their respective levels.

The AEC will be following the USEF COVID-19 Action Plan and it is extremely important for everyone to comply with these regulations.

Please note the specific plan is subject to revision, but some points to note are:

Pa. National and Washington International move shows to Tampa, Fla. for 2020 while The National stays in Kentucky

Details: July 23, 2020; By Staff Writers

HARRISBURG, Pa.--Both the Pennsylvania National and the Washington International Horse Shows will e held in Tampa, Fla. this year due to covid-19 while the National Horse Show remains at the Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.

National H.S. generic Due to COVID-19 restrictions in place in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center and Capital One Arena are closed and therefore are unable unable to host the PNHS and WIHS, respectively.

The Board of Directors and show management teams of the Pennsylvania National Horse Show (PNHS) and Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) announced their new venue and dates for 2020.

The PNHS and WIHS are committed to providing a safe environment for competitors, families, and staff in the face of the ongoing pandemic, while still meeting the requirements of sponsors and competition schedules.

GreenMount Farm’s Bernardini filly named 2020 Champion at MHBA Yearling Show

Details: July 20, 2020; By SARA CAVANAGH

TIMONIUM, Md.--GreenMount Farm’s filly by Bernardini out of Mystic Love, by Not For Love, outshined the competition as judge Michael Matz selected her as grand champion of the 86th annual Maryland Horse Breeders Association’s Yearling Show, held Sunday, July 19 at the Timonium Fairgrounds horse show ring in Timonium, Md.

MHBA Champion The champion of the 2020 Maryland Horse Breeders Association Yearling Show: A Bernardini filly out of Mystic LoveBred by GreenMount Farm in partnership with Godolphin, the champion filly was the winner of Class IV (for fillies foaled in Maryland, by out-of-state sires).

She was shown by Sabrina Moore, manager and co-owner of GreenMount.

“I had a good feeling about her, I mean I think she’s really nice, but until you get there and see how nice all the other horses are you don’t know,” said Moore. “It’s surreal, but I count my blessings, I know it doesn’t happen all the time. Knowing the people that are genuinely happy for you, that’s probably the best part of it.

“I love the show because they get out and you kind of get a feel for them, what they’re going to be like as soon as you get them off the farm and they [get to] school a little bit. I just think the yearling show is really key for them and I was glad to get her there.”

Capital Challenge to include NAL Finals

Details: July 19, 2020; By Staff Writers

UPPER MARLBORO, Md.--The Capital Challenge Horse Show, Sept. 25 - Oct. 4 at the Prince George’s Equestrian Center, will offer the same top-level competition, prestigious finals, and high-quality exhibitor experience for which the year-end horse show has become known, in addition to important new protocols put in place for safety.

Capital Challene showgrounds Capital Challenge showgrounds“Prince George’s Equestrian Center has been our home for the past 26 years, and we’re looking forward to welcoming exhibitors there again this fall,” said show manager Oliver Kennedy. “In order to do that, we are working closely with both the facilities team at Prince George’s and with local and state government officials on protocols and guidelines that will allow us to host a safe competition.

“With a number of safety protocols in place, some things are going to look a bit different than they have in the past, but the level of competition, the finals that we offer, and the prestige of doing well at Capital Challenge are all the same,” continued Kennedy.

The 10-day Capital Challenge Horse Show is largely unique from other horse shows, in that it regularly utilizes both indoor and outdoor rings, as well as a covered arena simultaneously throughout the show.

Saratoga H.S. will host the Green Hunter Incentive East Regional Championship

Details: July 6, 2020; By Staff Writers

SARATOGA, N.Y.--The Saratoga Fall Show, Sept. 10-13 at White Hollow Farm, will host the 2020 USHJA GREEN HUNTER INCENTIVE EAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

Saratoga H.S. grounds“We are honored to host this championship program,” said Patrick Rodes of Southbound Saratoga Management. “I’ve been a big supporter of this initiative since its onset and am so pleased to have it here at White Hollow Farm."

2020 USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Program
Regional Championships Specifications
$10,000 3’/3’3 Green Hunter Incentive Regional Championship
$2,500 3’6/3’9 Green Hunter Incentive Regional Championship
Two round USHJA Green Hunter Regional Championship

USHJA Announces Changes to 2020 Green Hunter Incentive
Regional Championships

HITS Culpeper has the Green Light to Start July 1

Details: June 18, 2020; By SARA CAVANAGH

CULPEPER, Va.--Horse showing is a go at HITS Culpeper, beginning with the two-week July Series, July 1-12!

Tom Struzzieri We are excited to be back in the 'Heart of Virginia's Horse Country' for the 2020 season!

For more information on HITS Culpeper, including Entry Blanks, Schedules, Prize List, and Stabling Requests, visit the HITS Culpeper Page.

We are fortunate to be back to horse showing, but we also stress that under the current conditions it is imperative that all participants continue to practice safety and health measures.

Social distancing, wearing of masks and other protocols must be followed by all, so HITS may continue to produce the horse shows that our exhibitors have come to know and love.

The HITS Horse Show Protocol is in place and we expect 100 percent throughout the season at all HITS Shows.

Be sure to review the HITS Health and Safety Protocol and HITS Quick Tips prior to your arrival at HITS, so that a safe and enjoyable environment is maintained.

Devon Fall Classic cancelled

Details: June 16, 2020; By SARA CAVANAGH

DEVON, Pa.--The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair has announced the cancellation of the 2020 Devon Fall Classic, which was to be held September 10-13, 2020.

Devon Fall Classic flowers The Devon Fall Classic is a 4-day jumping competition and fall festival held on the historic DHSCF grounds.

The annual event benefits the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair Foundation.

Wayne W. Grafton, Devon Chairman and CEO, explained that the decision to cancel was made based upon "the lack of regulatory guidelines within an adequate time frame in order to plan and execute the event."

Grafton added that the organization "is very disappointed given the cancellation of the May DHSCF, but we are focused on the safety and well-being of our competitors, volunteers and spectators, as well as the overall community.

We are putting all our efforts into planning the 125th Anniversary Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, to be held May 27-June 6, 2021."

The Devon Fall Classic is expected to return in September 2021. For more information, please visit www.devonhorseshow.net.

Plantation Field successfully opens Event season in the age of Covid-19

Details: June 10, 2020; By Staff Writers

UNIONVILLE, Pa.--Plantation Field reopened Eventing on June 7-8 after almost three months of all events being shut down due to Covid-19.

PF Tansey 2Powell Elisabeth Tansey from Bedminster, NJ competed Sunday at her very first event at Plantation Field aboard her pony Oreo. She has been working so hard practicing and taking lessons and was so excited to be able to compete and walk away with 2nd place.
Clarissa Wilmerding is Elise's trainer. Elise rides with Somerset Hills Pony Club. (Photo by Tina Marie Powell, a fence judge)This past weekend saw competitors returning to the field of play at three events across the country: River Glen in New Market, Tenn.; Feather Creek in Norman, Okla.; and Plantation Field in Unionville.

The USEA was on the ground at Plantation Field on Friday to observe the joy and excitement of the first day back competing since mid-March.

Plantation Field offered Beginner Novice through Intermediate levels with Intermediate, Preliminary, and Open Training all running as one-day events on Friday and the remaining Training divisions, Novice, and Beginner Novice following suit on Saturday.

From contactless packet pick-up and temperature checks at the entrance to drive-thru fence judge orientation, there were plenty of changes to be seen around the event designed to keep competitors, staff, and volunteers safe.

“We knew we had to get this right and we had to do it in a way that people outside the eventing world could see that this is a no-contact sport where we can maintain social distance,” said Mary Coldren, Plantation Field’s event organizer. “It was important to us to show that this can be done in a way that follows CDC guidelines and hopefully it will benefit other events for the rest of the season. I sent an email to the competitors last week that said, ‘All eyes are on us. This will not look like pictures you see at the beach. We are going to wear masks and we are going to social distance. We’re going to do this right.’”

Coldren said it came down to the wire as far as gaining approval to run, as Pennsylvania only entered “Phase Yellow” on Friday – the stay-at-home orders for Chester County extended through Thursday night.

“We didn’t get permission until 8:45 p.m. on Monday night,” she said. “All along, no one would say, ‘yes,’ but no one said, ‘no’ either. That was one of the hard parts – are we or aren’t we, maybe we can, maybe we can’t? Two weeks ago, I thought we had no chance. We rolled the dice and got set up and got lucky that it worked out!”

Coldren noted that special thanks was due to Denis Glaccum, President of Plantation Field Equestrian Events, Inc., for making sure the event got the go-ahead to take place.

“He really deserves the credit for having a positive attitude and making the presentation that got us the permission to run. I was doubtful, but he never gave up!”

Century Ride Takes Place in Landenberg, PA

Details: June 9, 2020; By SARA CAVANAGH

Sent in by Susan and Mary Jane Arden

LANDENBERG. Pa.--Paula Berkebile of Landenberg was looking forward to her birthday with particular excitement.

Paula Thor Paula Berkebile and ThorShe knew that when she reached age 75, she and her 26-year-old, three-fourths Arabian gelding, Thor, would be eligible to participate in the Century Ride.

The Dressage Foundation, which sponsors this event, stipulates that in this pinnacle event for horse and rider, their combined ages equal at least 100 years.

Paula came to riding as an adult and was self-taught until she began formal lessons when she was in her 50s.

Before discovering dressage, she showed hunter pleasure, did extensive trail riding and she even dabbled in team penning!

But it was dressage that captivated her.

As for Thor, he, too has an interesting resume.

The diminutive and dapper gray gelding had been a child’s 4H hunter, a lesson pony and for several years a lovely pasture ornament.

When Paula’s purebred Arabian, Breeze, started exhibiting signs of Cushings she was afraid her dreams of doing the Century Ride were over.

That was, until a good friend and riding instructor offered her Thor as a permanent lease five years ago.

In Paula’s own words, “ On our first ride he put his nose in the air and only stopped when I headed for a fence. But thanks to several wonderful instructors, he learned how to carry himself and stop when asked."

Kelley Farmer and Brian Moggre win at Tryon International

Details: June 7, 2020; By Staff Writers

MILL SPRING, N.C.--Kelley Farmer of Keswick, Va., rode In Writing to win the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, the marquis hunter class of the Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Charity Horse Show at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC),on June 5 with a first round on a score of 186.

Kelley Farmer on In Writing (Photo by ©TIEC)Due to weather forcing competition to halt, her first-round score was enough to take the win.

Second placed Aaron Vale on Iwan, scored of 182, while Jennifer Alfano rode Channing to place third on a score of 169.

Farmer navigated the Lewis Pack designed course alongside 21 other horse-and-rider pairs, and added four points for high options.

“The course was lovely, and I have to say, I’ve got to brag on my horse a little bit. I have an incredible animal, which makes my life really easy,” Farmer said. “The first three jumps were nice, and kind of got you into the course, and for the fourth to fifth bending line you had to have a horse with a bit of scope to jump the high option. But, I know my horse has all the ability in the world, so I never really worry with him - it’s a nice problem to have - when I walk a course, I know that pretty much anything they can build, he can do it.”

USDF Announces HITS as Host of the Region 8 Championships

Details: June 6, 2020; By Staff Writers

SAUGERTIES, N.Y.--The U.S. Dressage Federation announced that HITS, Inc. has been awarded the 2020 USDF Region 8 Championships.

Tom StruzzieriThe competition is scheduled to be held Sept.17-20, 2020 at HITS on the Hudson, in Saugerties with Centerline Events serving as show management for the event.

USDF relies on championship hosts and management to provide a top-notch competition experience to showcase the best of the best in Region 8.

USDF is certain that the Centerline Events management team, and the host/organizer HITS, will be able to provide a safe and successful event within COVID-19 USDF best practice considerations, USEF guidelines, and local government restrictions that may exist at the time of the competition.

HITS is excited to have been awarded the 2020 USDF Region 8 Championships.