May 1, 2020 - The suspension of Equestrian Canada (EC) sanctioned competition has been extended to June 30, 2020, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Please note: From May 1-June 30, 2020, EC competitions may be sanctioned on a case-by-case basis upon request by a Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations (PTSOs) due to varying timelines across provinces regarding reopening. Mandates from provincial and federal government bodies and public health authorities will be the final factor for sanctioning until further notice. 

Return to activity (i.e. reopening of riding schools, lesson barns, coaching businesses and training facilities) will be determined by reopening plans from the appropriate provincial government bodies. A document supporting the return to business operations will be shared by EC on May 4, 2020.

With many provinces set to implement a phased-in reopening, this suspension extension is intended to provide adequate time between the return to activity and the return to competition. A working group of EC staff and veterinarians has been developing a graduated framework that will protect the health and welfare of horses upon competition reinstatement; this framework will be published in the coming weeks. The recommendations of this working group are part of joint initiatives with the PTSOs, select competition organizers and coaches/technical advisors.

No competitions will be sanctioned by either EC or PTSOs for the period of suspension, except those approved on the case-by-case basis outlined above. All matters pertaining to the accumulation of points, scores, qualification or rankings towards any EC awards program or team selection will be addressed once a return to competition framework has been published. Competition hosts will be able to receive a full refund of their sanctioning fees or have the funds held as a credit for future competitions.

All in-person meetings, clinics, events, Rookie Rider and Learn to Ride/Drive activities will continue to be suspended until further notice. Virtual participation in these programs and events is encouraged where available; options are being explored for programs that do not have virtual options at this time.

EC will continue to monitor the state of the pandemic and asses the need for further extensions to the suspension timeline. 

EC is making every effort to ensure continuous, thorough and up-to-date communication concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. EC’s complete statement on COVID-19, including regular updates, can be found on our website here. For the running list of cancelled/postponed clinics and events, click here.

Thank you for your cooperation and engagement as we work diligently to keep our community safe and informed. We are counting on each and every member of the Canadian equestrian community to make responsible decisions based on the information available, the conditions in your geographic area and directives from your local government and public health authorities.

Photo: Canstock/Zabava