Emma Klugman and Bendigo at Morven Park. Photo courtesy of GRC Photo/Morven Park.
The FEI levels originally scheduled at the Morven Park Fall Horse Trials from Oct. 2-4, 2020 have been canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. This would have been the first time a CCI4*-L was offered at Morven Park. Park staff were anticipating a record number of competitors, volunteers, and officials to attend from around the United States and other countries. Additionally, inaugural CCI2*YH-S and CCI3*YH-S levels had been planned to showcase up-and-coming horses.
Morven Park will continue to offer Novice through Advanced levels of competition and registration via EventEntries.com will open on August 18. Morven Park has proudly featured annual horse trials since 1974 and looks forward to welcoming equestrians to compete in dressage, show jumping, and cross-country.
Morven Park has been working for months to prepare for the FEI levels of competition. Ultimately, the increased risk of hosting an international horse trials amid rising COVID-19 cases, compounded with the additional cost of safety measures, proved to be too great.
“This decision was about safety,” according to the Park’s Executive Director, Sheryl Williams. “Running an event of this scale is difficult, but to try to host FEI levels during a global pandemic proved to be too taxing on our resources and too risky for everyone’s health. This adjusted format allows us to move forward with competition and provide a great weekend of eventing.”
While spectators will not be allowed to attend the Morven Park Fall Horse Trials due to COVID-19 restrictions, Morven Park’s Media Sponsor, Eventing Nation, will be streaming the competition live on their website. Streaming details will be released closer to the event date and will be available on MorvenPark.org/HorseTrials and Eventing Nation.com.
In addition to the Morven Park Fall Horse Trials, the 2020 calendar has been expanded to include the Morven Park Winter Horse Trials, scheduled for November 14–15, 2020. Beginner Novice through Preliminary competition will be offered. Registration will open on Sept. 29. Visit MorvenPark.org/Equestrian for event details.
[Morven Park Fall Horse Trials Announcement]
