Snowfields cancelled

[silver pine]

Snowfields in Area 1 is cancelled due to weather. So what happens to my stabling and entry fees? USEA fees? It's a big chunk of change to be out!

Any ideas??

[RiverBendPol]

GENERALLY speaking, your entry money is spent LONG before any competitors set foot on the property. You should know that once your cheque goes into the envelope you are kissing it goodbye. An event N-E-V-E-R wants to cancel and does so only in real emergency type cases. If they do send refunds, I will give mine back to them. They are the ones out huge amounts of money-entry fees hardly cover costs.

Meanwhile, I am hugely bummed they had to cancel...........it was going to be my baby's first BN. OTOH, judging from the water levels in MY Maine fields, I am not one bit surprised.........................

[Sadiegem]

I'm only about 5 minutes from Snowfields. Believe me, after last nights and this mornings torrential rains you don't want to put a horse on those fields at a walk never mind galloping and jumping! Trucks and trailers wouldn't make it even to Snowfields anyways. My hubby had to forge three moving bodies of water on Elmwood which is the road you take to get to Snowfields off of 295. An emergency center was set up at the Freeport Firehouse and roads are closed everywhere. Heck, even LL Bean sent employees home when their distribution center couldn't handle the water!

It sucks but it's better to stay home and lose some money than to come up (or down) here and try to navigate the roads and mud.

[silver pine]

I'm not saying they should not have cancelled- It's always dissapointing but if they feel the ground is not safe to run, then it's not safe to run.

I was just wondering what the general story was refund wise. I was not critizing the organizers, but if you pay to stable offsite then the event is cancelled dont you think you should get that money back since it does not cost them anything??

It's unfortunate all around.

[Hilary]

I'm so bummed! Last time I entered (2 years ago) we couldn't do XC but had a fabulous combined test. The weather this year is just hideous.

And about the check? Snowfields is a cheap event compared to some. If keeping my entry fee means they will be able to hold the event in the future, while I may wince a little, and not do something else, I will not complain. It's stated right there on the entry form that there are no refunds for cancellation.


I've heard they are supposed to refund the USEA fees, and I'd think stabling too since I think they stick us in the neighbors barns.

[flutie1]

I'm not saying they should not have cancelled- It's always dissapointing but if they feel the ground is not safe to run, then it's not safe to run.

I was just wondering what the general story was refund wise. I was not critizing the organizers, but if you pay to stable offsite then the event is cancelled dont you think you should get that money back since it does not cost them anything??

It's unfortunate all around.

What is their refund policy as stated in the Omnibus?

[Hilary]

"competition cancellation - none"

[RiverBendPol]

From the Snowfields Omnibus page:

"Entries:
Entry fee includes a $10 non-refundable office fee. Absolutely complete entries with all required signatures and documents included, will be rewarded day of competition. Incomplete entries will be assessed a $10 fee. Change of horse +/or rider assessed a $10 fee. Refunds: Before C.D.-Less $10 non-refundable office fee; After C.D.-Entry-Less $10 only with med/vet. note & your slot is filled by Secretary from the wait list. Stabling-No refund after CD without vet/med note. Competition cancellation-None. Lost pinny fee=$25. Neg. Coggins required within 12 months for in-state horses/6 months for out-of-state. Copy must accompany entry."

Doesn't get more clear than that.:cool:

[flutie1]

There you have it - and by entering, these terms were agreed to.

[Ajierene]

If my guess is correct - canceling judges and officials that are paid, this close to an event probably means they still get paid. Kind of like your doctor charges you if you cancel less than 24 hours in advance or so.

So, you agree to lose your event fee because they have to still pay their fees. I am not sure if they have to pay stabling fees either way. If they stable offsite, they may have to pay the barns if they cancel so soon - this would be so that the barns do not lose money that could have come from someone else that they turned down.

It sucks and event organizers would much prefer to put on the event, but such is life.

[AppJumpr08]

I was there 2 years ago when the cancelled the cross country due to the wet weather. The combined test, as Hilary mentioned, was lovely.

There is a fair amount of low land at Snowfields, and even when there hasn't been a ton of rain, things can be pretty mucky.

The weather is just brutal this year :sigh:

[wolfmare]

I'm sure it was a heartbreaking decision- a lot of time and effort goes into keeping Snowfields going every year....I remember worring every year would be its last!
I'm taking my baby up to Whispering Pines..Sand dressage and warm up, even it the fields are too wet to use, I expect they can do a stadium in the rings. And the sun is supposed to actually come out for a bit.....
Weird rainy summer.

[Merle]

I'm so bummed, too! I was hoping they would still hold it but man this weather has been terrible. It was going to be our last event of the year but darn it all. I guess no more for us.

I, like others, last entered two years ago when they made it into a combined test. I didn't end up going since gas would have still cost me the same and it wasn't worth the drive for me. But pictures of it looked lovely! :)

[AliceG]

I live about 5 minutes away from snowfields and I heard that competitors are welcome to clinic with Tom Ordway on Monday the 11 for free, he was going to be the TD.

Here is the info for it, and I have ridden with him before and I had alot of fun
http://www.maine-eventing.org/News.html