Although the news in Wellington, Fla., as of Jan. 4 is that the series of equine herpes virus, or EHV-1, occurrences may be winding to a close, members of the Gold Coast Dressage Association Board of Directors decided to play it safe and cancel the Gold Coast Opener CDI-W/CDIY.
The show was scheduled for Jan. 26-28 in Loxahatchee, Fla., at the Horse Park at the Equestrian Estates in White Fences. But the Board was able to reschedule the open national show, although not the CDI, for Feb. 17-18 at the Palm Beach County Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, Fla.
“We have made this decision based on the best interests of the horses and our community,” said Noreen O\’Sullivan, president of GCDA and the Opener CDI-W manager, in a press release. “We feel that by postponing the open show to February, we are giving ourselves more time to initiate some added precautions for future shows to ensure the health and safety of the horses.”
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The U.S. Dressage Federation also announced the cancellation of the Succeed FEI Level Trainer’s Conference that was to be held Jan. 14-15 in Wellington, as well as the associated Biomechanics of the Pyramid of Training and Saddle Fitting Seminar.
“USDF believes holding the event is not worth compromising the potential welfare of the horses,” stated an official press release. “Gathering the hundreds of people and many horses for the FEI Level Trainers’ Conference increases the risk of transference.”
Anyone registered for the training conference will receive a full refund.
