Michael Morrissey of Stadium Jumping Inc. announced today, March 16, that the first week of the Tampa Equestrian Festival has been cancelled. The festival will begin with the Tampa Bay Classic on March 31.

This announcement comes only one week before the circuit was set to begin. The Suncoast Internationale was scheduled to run March 24-28th.

Morrissey said the schedule change was long overdue. “That first week has always been a transitional week for us,” he explained. “We are listening to what our exhibitors have been telling us regarding that week. They have told us that they feel there is just too much showing.”

“Those coming from Ocala, which will have just ended, needed an extra week to prepare, and those that were competing at WEF simply told us they needed a week off,” Morrissey continued. “Over the years, this has always been a lightly attended event, and this extra time allows us an extra opportunity to concentrate on the preparations for our big show, the Tampa Bay Classic, which is the host for two very important events this year.”