View International Updates here
29th May 2020
Queensland International 3 Day Event
Plans for the event, originally to be held in July, to make an appearance in some form later in the year
Victoria and NSW reviewing calendars for new dates from July/August
13th May 2020
The Australian Institute of Sport last week introduced a detailed strategy on ‘The Principles and the Framework for Rebooting Sport in a COVID-19 Environment’, which provided an optimistic first stage in the return of sporting activity throughout Australia. Since the release of the framework additional amendments have been made to equestrian sport.
For equestrian, the recommended Level A, B and C activities is as follows:
Level A – Solo/pairs training only.
Level B – Full training.
Level C – Full training and competition.
While restrictions have been lifted to some degree in Australia by the Federal Government, there are requirements on a State by State basis with the Northern Territory the first to resume all sporting activity (see 8th May)
Victorian Update
Following Friday’s announcement by the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, about the national 3-step recovery plan, and this morning’s announcement by the Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews there is now a gradual easing of government restrictions that will allow the resumption of SOME equestrian activities.
From 11.59 pm tomorrow evening (Tuesday 12 May), outdoor recreational activities can be undertaken in groups of up to 10 participants, subject to social distancing and hygiene measures being implemented. This means members may now:
- Ride off property
- Travel horses locally and regionally including for training/coaching – but no overnight stays
- Participate in outdoor training/coaching activities with a maximum of 10 participants
NOTE:
i. Riders should check with venue as owners/managers who may have venue specific restrictions
ii. Social distancing (1.5m) and good hygiene MUST be maintain
iii. These allowances are for outdoor areas only – no gatherings for recreational activities indoors are permitted
Members may continue to:
- Have coaches, farriers, trainers, vets, and other equine professionals attend your property
- Attend agistment centres to care for horses subject to venue owner/manager specific restrictions
8th May 2020
Australia's Northern Territory re-commences equestrian competition
Australia's Northern Territory Government has revised the initial easing of restrictions and equestrian competition can now re-commence, providing a 'test case' for the rest of Australia
23rd April 2020
Australian International 3DE cancelled
1st April 2020
A statement from the EA Board and the State Branches in response to the COVID-19 ongoing crisis.
The health, safety and welfare of our community is our highest priority.
Due to rapidly changing Federal and State Government restrictions, EA is now suspending all EA activities until further notice. This suspension excludes all essential activities allowed under current Federal and State restrictions.
31st March 2020
South Australian Update (click to read in full)
There are Eventing clubs in SA that are ready to provide a series of events with a few weeks notice. The events, if able to be held in August/September, would allow a progression to major 3DE competitions, in the Spring season.
At this stage the 3DE at Sydney and at Melbourne have been CANCELLED. It is more realistic to concentrate on providing lead up events to Aus3de, Adelaide and to Wallaby Hill.
Naracoorte has recently proposed to postpone, not cancel, their May event to run in the beginning of October after Albury and before Reynella. We hope events can re-start by August / September and lead up to Adelaide – however nothing is certain as yet.
If you keep your horses ‘ticking over’ you will have time to prepare them for a return to competition as soon as it is safe.
30th March 2020
Equestrian Victoria Update (click to read in full) Member Release from 4pm 30th March 2020.
Advice for horse owners following Victorian Government Stage 3 Restrictions allowing for gatherings of only up to 2 people
Australian Vet Association confirms vets are an ‘essential service’ during Covid-19
The AVA has received confirmation that;
“The Federal Government considers the role of veterinarians essential to the agricultural sector and therefore to our nation’s food security but also in protecting companion animals and our nation’s wildlife.
The Federal Government has not put any restrictions on veterinarians other than the practice of social distancing and hygiene practices during the COVID-19 crisis.
While confusion has arisen due to the closing of some state borders, those state governments have assured us that veterinarians are able to continue to operate across borders.
The Federal Government will continue to work to maintain the essential role that veterinarians have in Australia during this crisis”
28th March 2020
Equestrian Victoria UPDATE (click to read in full) Member Release from Friday 27 March 2020.
Equestrian Victoria wishes to clarify that pursuant to the Deputy Chief Health Officer (Communicable Diseases) Non-Essential Activity Directions that:
1. A person who owns, controls or operates a recreational facility in Victoria must not operate that facility between midnight on 26 March and midnight 13 April 2020
i. a facility used predominantly for indoor recreation;
ii. a facility used predominantly for outdoor physical recreation.
A recreational facility includes facilities operated on a for profit or not-for profit basis and includes equestrian facilities
26th March 2020
Sydney International 3 Day Event 7th - 10th May - Cancelled
Eventing Equestriad at Camden 18th & 19th April - Postponed
Naracoorte Horse Trials 16th May - Postponed
24th March 2020
Australian Olympic Committee statement
The AOC says Australian athletes should prepare for a Tokyo Olympic Games in the northern summer of 2021, following the IOC’s announcement of a potential postponement of this year’s Games and changes in public health landscape in Australia and across the globe (watch AOC press conference video here)
Melbourne International 3DE June 4th – 8th 2020
The Victorian Eventing Committee are saddened to announce the Furphy Melbourne International 3 Day Event will not run in 2020. Whilst we have already done a lot of work towards this year’s event, with the current situation we cannot realistically hope to run an event in June. We thank our long time Sponsors for their continued support and look forward to 2021 being bigger and better than ever. In the meantime stay safe and well.
Update from Equestrian Australia High Performance
The Australian Government has recently announced further restrictions to public gatherings, and stricter travel restrictions.
The AIS Chief Medical Officer has recommended High Performance athletes and staff not to travel and strictly adhere to the recently announced relevant State and/or National guidelines.
The FEI continue to recommend the cancellation of all FEI events until the situation can be reassessed.
The Equestrian Australia High Performance team strongly encourage riders to continue with their training preparations for Tokyo wherever possible. If events are cancelled, continue to adapt your preparation as required and talk to the relevant people.
The IOC have recently announced their review plans for Tokyo, and the AOC has announced this afternoon that athletes should plan for a postponed Olympic Games.
With regards to Nomination Policies, we will continue to consult with the Australian Olympic Committee/Paralympics Australia in coming weeks and subsequently meet with the Selection Panels to discuss how these may be adjusted. We will look to review this situation on 31st March, 2020.
Furthermore, the Covid – 19 travel restrictions that have been put in place will also impact our ability to roll-out the HP Pathways Educational Program to each State by the agreed dates set at the forum in December 2019.
We will endeavour to have everything ready for the roll-out once travel restrictions have been lifted, but at this stage the roll-out phase will be put on hold. In the meantime, we will be working hard in developing the content and literature around all key topics as listed in the program.
The situation remains complex and constantly evolving and therefore we will need to adapt accordingly at the appropriate time.
Athlete and horse welfare continues to remain the highest priority to the HP Team and we are committed to ensuring our athletes, horses, staff and the equestrian community remain healthy.
EA High Performance Director, Chris Webb
19th March 2020
Statement from Equestrian Victoria
As an organisation we continue to closely monitor the developing COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation and now formally advise that effective immediately, all Equestrian Victoria affiliated events have been suspended until such time as the State of Emergency has been downgraded.
These decisions have been made in the best interest of member safety and community wellbeing, and for the following reasons:
Firstly, it is Equestrian Victoria’s expectation and/or requirement that medical support be available at equestrian events. Due to the State of Emergency being declared in Victoria we are unable to guarantee, during this period, the ability to organise appropriate paramedic cover for equestrian events.
Consequently, in the event of a serious trauma at an EV event, we cannot rely on a state ambulance response to manage this trauma in best or optimal way, including transfer via road or helicopter to major trauma centre.
Sporting clubs and active recreation organisations, including Equestrian Victoria, have an important role and obligation to play in helping to reduce the risk of infection and slow the spread of the virus in the Victorian community.
Eventing Victoria and Adffiliated Horse Trials
- All April Squads - CANCELLED
- Wandin Park International Horse Trials – 21/22 March 2020 - CANCELLED
- GSCE at Hexham – 28/29 March - CANCELLED
- Lakes & Craters International Horse Trials – 3 to 6 April - CANCELLED
- Heytesbury – 18/19 April - CANCELLED
- Friends of Mansfield – 25/26 April - CANCELLED
- Friends of Ballarat International Horse Trials – 1 to 3 May - CANCELLED
17th March 2020
Cancelled - Lockington Horse Trials (South Australia) April 2020
Cancelled - Lakes and Craters International 4th – 6th April
16th March 2020
Postponed - The Leader Equine Victorian Interschool Equestrian State Championships (2 to 6 April 2020)
Effective Monday, 16 March at midday the Victorian State Government has declared a “State of Emergency” which will be in force for the next four (4) weeks, through to 13 April 2020
15th March 2020
The Australian Government has upped its border precautions in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus by imposing a self-isolation requirement on all International arrivals to Australia effective from midnight tonight with every person entering Australia having to spend a fortnight in self-isolation from Monday
Since the ban on “Non-essential” organised mass gatherings (see below) imposed on Friday, some more equestrian events have cancelled but some have decided to go ahead;
Cancelled
Wandin International Horse Trials (VIC): 20th – 22nd March
Berrima Horse Trials (NSW): 28th & 29th March
Fig Tree Pocket One Day Event (QLD): 4th & 5th April
Sydney CDI Dressage (NSW): 29th April – 2nd May
Going ahead
Lakes & Craters International (Camperdown, VIC): 4th – 6th April Cancelled 16th March
WAYER Valley International Horse Trials (Capel, WA): 4th & 5th April. FEI classes cancelled, National classes going ahead with daily restrictions
13th March 2020
Following the announcement on 11th March 2020 by the World Health Organisation that COVID-19 in now characterized as a pandemic, the Australian Government has today announced that “Non-essential” organised mass gatherings of more than 500 people will be banned across Australia from Monday in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Schools, universities and shopping centres, along with Australia’s public transport networks, are not included in the ban but the announcement will have significant impact on sporting events, with the Formula One Grand Prix, to have been held in Melbourne on Sunday, the first to be affected
"Generally speaking, we're talking about a static gathering where people are together for a period of perhaps up to two hours," Australia's chief medical officer Brendan Murphy said.
"That is generally where you have a high risk of exposure.
"Casual exposure — walking through a train station or an airport — is much, much lower risk, so we're talking about those constant periods of contact."
As a result of the ban, Equestrian Victoria has advised that the following equestrian events to have been held in Victoria have been cancelled, effective immediately:
- PSI Dressage and Jumping with the Stars – 19 to 21 March 2020
- Jumping Victoria State Titles – 26 to 29 March 2020
The ban will also affect the Australian National Eventing Championships, scheduled to be held at Wandin Park in Victoria from 20th – 22nd March which the event organisers have said will be postponed
An official statement has not been made as yet by Equestrian Australia but we’ll keep you updated as to which events may be affected as information comes to hand
