ASHA Addresses COVID-19
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Dear ASHA Members,
In the wake of the White House declaration today about the national state of emergency due to the coronavirus, and the USEF announcements today, ASHA also will follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization to help stop the spread of COVID-19. ASHA is urging all members to exercise the recommended precautions and action steps that will help protect against and prevent the spread of COVID-19. We will continue to monitor and work to help minimize the impact of COVID-19 on the Saddlebred community.
USEF has joined countless other sporting events and made the following decree: “Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, all USEF owned events, selection trials, training camps, clinics, and activities will be suspended for the next 30 days. Additionally, USEF strongly recommends that competition organizers suspend all USEF licensed competitions across the country for the next 30 days and that equestrians do not compete for the next 30 days. For those competitions that do run, there will be no accumulation of points, scores, money won, qualifications, or rankings toward any USEF awards programs, USEF owned event, or selection to a US team during this 30-day time period. This includes USEF National Championships.”
USEF also has provided a statement for cancellation of events and their recommended action steps for all equestrian competitions in the next 30 days. It is available here.
ASHA also has worked with the World’s Championship Horse Show, which has agreed to reduce the qualifying requirements for the 2020 show to 4 classes at 2 shows. After April 14, the WCHS will continue to work with ASHA based on the current status and national recommendations. The ASHA wants to ensure that in addition to this change in qualifying requirements members understand that if you’re able to compete in the next 30 days at any ASHA Star Show held during the USEF recommended 30 Day Show Cessation WILL be recorded by the ASHA and count for WCHS qualifying classes and points.
If you choose to compete, we join USEF in recommending that you take immediate steps to limit your exposure and create social distancing. Based on guidance from the CDC, the USEF provides the following recommendations to our membership. Participate in events that:
Are venues within close proximity (driving distance) to your residence;
Limit out of state competitors (and for currently operating winter circuits limit new out of state competitors);
Restrict free access in stabling areas to only essential personnel (ie; riders, grooms, farriers, vets, officials);
Provide alcohol-based hand sanitizer at in-gates, competition offices, vendors and convenient places throughout the competition grounds;
Ensure restroom facilities are regularly cleaned;
Operate without spectators;
Limit social gatherings to less than 250 people as recommended by the CDC; and
Ensure that food services are of the type that limit contamination, buffets are strongly discouraged.
ASHA strongly encourages those with more questions to use the USEF Resource Center as it has resources from the CDC, WHO, USOPC and the FEI. A direct link the online USEF resource page available here. If you have questions, please contact competitons@asha.net.
Sincerely,
Martin Schaffel, President
David Mount, Interim Executive Director
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