Sadly a popular photographer and supporter of eventing who expressed her concerns about the AECs running, in a very non confrontational way has now been fired from photographing the event and possibly others. A lot of comments on her FB page, is this really reflecting what we want eventing to reflect?
5 Likes
I see no difference between the AEC and other âlocalâ shows. One of the âlocalâ shows mentioned has nearly 400 entries from multiple states. Itâs just as national as the AECs. I think you canât be against the AEC but for other horse trials.
3 Likes
Whoa. That is awful.
1 Like
She made a post a few hours later saying that the entire thing had been resolved and there wasnât an issue.
6 Likes
I got an email from the USEA today telling me that my horse is qualified and sharing info about all the safety protocols. Given the recent (and very sensible IMO) cancellation of Pony Finals etc, it struck me as kind of wishful thinkingâŠ
3 Likes
Just a note that MLB isnât playing in a bubble like the NBA and NFL. NBA/NFL have a couple hub locations, and all teams/support staff for each hub live, work, and socialize only in their bubble (they arenât supposed to have contact outside the bubble). Teams at each hub play other teams from the same hub in the same stadium - no mixing up hubs. MLB involves teams/support staff travelling all over the country to play at each teamâs home field. Thatâs why the Canadian govât said that the Blue Jays were not allowed to have their home games in Toronto, even though they were allowed to have their training camp at home. The training camp was a true bubble, with players and staff living in the hotel attached directly to the stadium.
There wasnât much chance for MLB to succeed, and if their plans didnât include âshut down a particular team if they have any positive testsâ then they are entirely responsible for these outbreaks. The positive players likely would have infected others on their own team, who might not be symptomatic or might not test positive yet but could be spreading it around to other teams. Iâve watched some of the Jays games and there isnât a lot of mask-wearing on the field, in dugouts, etc by the players. Itâs also hard for infield players to keep distant from the opposite teamâs runners.
Iâm a baseball fan and thought from the start that trying to run a season the way they are doing it was doomed. I wouldnât be surprised if it all gets shut down.
They also required a negative COVID test before campers/staff were allowed to come, so that shows how hard it is to control.
I think continuing to run horse shows, particularly championship shows where youâve got competitors traveling in, is just a terrible idea. I listened to the USHJA town hall the other day and wowâŠ
4 Likes
Glad to hear that.
I think it depends on the Area and the horse trial. Some really are fairly local, with the vast majority of participants trailering in from < 2 hours away. In Area II, there are multiple 1-day horse trials that I could go to on a single tank of gas, packing my lunch, and working out of my trailer. As long as the show had good practices (which the one I volunteered at earlier this year did), that is pretty low risk and limited chance of spread outside the community. I realize that weâre pretty lucky in this regard in Area II and other Areas have much different situations regarding the density of venues.
6 Likes
I attended a 1 day trial in July. I saw plates from 4 different states,not including the one we were in. One of the shows listed as safer than the AECs has almost as many entries and while it doesnât attract people from the coast it has multiple states.
1 Like
I think you meant NHL not NFL. Assuming there is football it will not be in a bubble situation at this point anyway.
What sad news. I am sure the organizers have struggled with this decision, knowing no matter what they did that people were hurt by their choice. I hope that our organizers and volunteers that are the glue in this sport can recover and continue to do what they do in the future.
From the Chronicle this morning - https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/2020-usea-american-eventing-championships-canceled
1 Like
Whoops! Yes I did mean NHLâŠbasketball and hockey 
1 Like
Yes thankfully! They were bombarded with emails lol
Totally agree with all of this (Iâm a baseball fan too, and have been watching with fascinationâŠand to be honest, some dread).
The really notable thing about the Canadian government is that while you are absolutely right that they banned the Blue Jays from commuting back and forth to their home stadium after training camp (because they would not be existing in a bubble), both NHL hub cities are in Canada (Toronto and Edmonton). Every NHL playoff game for this season will be played in Canada. Itâs clear that some major league sports are permitted by the Canadian government, but there is a limit, and that limit appears to be unencumbered cross-country/border travel.
While weâre on the topic of other sports, an NHL player was recently hurt in a game and required a trip to hospital. Heâs been discharged but will not be allowed to return to play inside the bubble until he has quarantined, despite him being cleared from his injury for return-to-play and his team considering him an important player on their roster. Even in the playoffs, it seems they will not be bending the rules - and good for them.
3 Likes
Well, I go to a lot of big shows and I went to AECs last year and I do think AECs is different. They flew flags from all the attendee states last year and it was a lot more than 4, more like 40. Even though 400 horses were entered, it wasnât closed yet, and a lot of people were waiting until the last minute to enter. Up to 1000 horses could be entered and they did have 1000 last year. In any other circumstance, I would have been there with 2. I know a lot of people that were planning to come from hot spot states that wouldnât attend a normal show at KHP.
Iâm so sad for the organizers. I had so much fun last year and we fully intended to go again.
2 Likes
Iâm thinking that a day-trailer show, without close interaction with other people, could work. But I havenât tried it yet to see if I felt comfortable with what is going on.
Stabling in the barns, though, just donât see how that isnât going to be a source of spread. Maybe there are ways that certain venues are keeping people away from each other.
Read yesterday that nationally, a major source of spread is: Family Gatherings. Translating: so much for the idea of âthe podâ, a mini-bubble of people who interact only with each other. They could be passing it among themselves to then radiate outward after they get home.
The major sports leagues can usefully be watched for the results of their different protocols. As has been pointed out, MLB has been the least restrictive, and there are problems. And some successes as well. But comparing with the lack of monitored movement for horse show participants, it doesnât look promising for multi-day horse shows.
The sports leagues are finding numbers of asymptomatic carriers. They are testing frequently, otherwise they would not be aware of these risks.
Again, comparing with horse show riders that seldom, maybe never, get a covid test, so asymptomatic carriers will not be identified. And probably couldnât get one even if they asked, since many testing locations (such as CVS Pharmacies) will only give tests to people with significant symptoms. That method will obviously not protect us from asymptomatic carriers.
2 Likes
Just FYI. Plates from different states doesnât really mean they are from out of state. Many people register their rigs in other states. HellâŠthere are three different states parked at my farm right now. We also routinely see others with out of state plates but the people are now based here working long term with the trainers in the area. We can also cross 4 state lines within 40 min easy. Yes some events have had 400 entries but that is not typical of course we have also had events with that number of entries that every is shipping in and I would call that a local event.
4 Likes
