May 5, 2020
To: Area VII Members and Competitors
From: The Area VII Chair
Subject: 2020 Area VII Eventing Season – Status Update
First and most importantly, during these difficult times, we hope that everyone is staying safe.
As far as our equestrian activities are concerned, some of us have been willing and able to ride, jump, train, gallop and otherwise have our horses “going and ready”, while others have been unable to even see their horses due to barn closures – with many other levels of horse activity in between these two seemingly all or nothing extremes.
Will we have an eventing season this year? We don’t know, but as a council we have at least one conference call every month to discuss what’s going on in our region and what’s happening at the USEF and USEA levels. Ultimately, how we as eventers will be able to get out and about for training, clinics and competitions will be governed by the rules and guidelines that flow from the USEF, USEA and our state and local governments – in addition to our individual tolerance levels for risk.
Keep things in perspective. If you are unable or unwilling to compete this year, that’s ok. For those of us who are even considering this possibility, how lucky are we right now?
To be an event organizer is always challenging – especially now. Our events are governed by the USEF and USEA rules and regulations. Combined with state and local guidelines regarding what types of activities can be held, how many people can gather together and public health concerns, our organizers are being presented with even greater challenges than normal.
The USEF and USEA are in the process of developing additional safety protocols that will enhance our ability to safely return to competition during this new era of COVID-19. Please stay up to date on the USEF and USEA guidelines by periodically referencing their respective websites. The USEF is developing a COVID-19 Action Plan - Mandatory and Recommended Practices, that will be on the USEF website by the end of this week, along with access to the webinar presented on Monday, 5/4/20, “Planning for a Safe Return to Competition".
This year, more than ever, we as riders and competitors need to be keenly aware of our responsibility for knowing what we and our horses are ready for. Not having competed or perhaps even trained or able to properly condition means that if we decide to compete, maybe we need to start out at a level or even two levels below where we finished last year and use our first couple of events as the training/preparation for which we otherwise would have used early season derbies or schooling events.
Amid the threat of the coronavirus, as states give businesses and activities the right to re-open, it will be the patrons who will make their own judgment about whether they can safely show up. As competitors and spectators, we are also patrons at our events. We need to make our own judgment about what we consider to be safe.
Know that our Area VII organizers will be doing everything within their power to make activities and competitions as safe as possible. There will be new requirements for all of us and it will be important for us to comply with the new safety rules to better protect everyone.
A strong message during this USEF webinar was that as we develop appropriate protocols for the return to competitions, we only have one shot at getting this right without endangering people’s health – riders, officials, grooms, spectators, volunteers, everyone.
We need to remember that as we return to our riding and competition activities, our goal is to not contribute to the spread of the virus. It is up to each of us as individuals to be responsible in our behaviors so we do not contribute to the spread of this virus.
We are all “chomping at the bit” to get back out there with our horses and friends at our wonderful events in Area VII. In the meantime, hang in there, be informed and stay safe!
Best Regards,
Cynthia Bayles, Area VII Chair