Ottawa, ON, May 6, 2020 – US Equestrian, Equestrian Canada and the Mexican Equestrian Federation, in consultation with the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), have announced the cancellation of the 2020 Adequan/FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC) for dressage and jumping. The 2020 NAYC for dressage and jumping was scheduled to run from Aug. 4-9 at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival in Traverse City, MI.

The agreement to cancel the 2020 NAYC was made due to ongoing uncertainty surrounding international travel as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the significant reduction of qualifying opportunities for both dressage and jumping athletes in Canada, Mexico and the United States. The three national federations, collectively with the FEI, agreed that it is no longer feasible to host the championship this year, as horse and athlete combinations would not be able to properly prepare, qualify, or travel effectively for the event.

“The Canadian, Mexican and U.S. Federations are saddened to announce that we have reached the conclusion to cancel the 2020 NAYC,” said Bill Moroney, Chief Executive Officer of US Equestrian. “We understand the disappointment this will bring to young athletes across North America, as well as their parents, horse owners and trainers. The Federations would like to thank the Organizing Committee of Great Lakes Equestrian Festival who have worked extremely hard to make the 2020 NAYC a memorable and special Championship. We all look forward to heading to Traverse City for NAYC in 2021.”

“We were very sorry to be informed by the United States Equestrian Federation that this year’s FEI North American Youth Championships in Dressage and Jumping has had to be cancelled, and we fully understand how hard it was for everyone involved but also how necessary it was to make this decision,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “There’s always a silver lining though and the one good thing to come out of this is that the fabulous venue for the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival in Traverse City, MI, will be hosting these popular Championships in 2021 and 2022, so we look forward to wonderful sport there next year.”

EC High Performance Director, James Hood, added, “Although a tough decision, we need to make choices that protect the health and welfare of the athletes, staff and citizens of Canada while ensuring that we provide an appropriate window of time for riders and horses to prepare to compete. The existing situation in all three countries impacts training and competition access and will potentially limit our abilities to travel internationally. We applaud the work that our countries have done collaboratively on this project and thank the FEI, US Equestrian and the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival for their support.”

The 2021 NAYC for dressage and jumping will return to the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival in Traverse City, MI, in 2021. The Great Lakes Equestrian Festival Week VI is still scheduled to run as planned from Aug. 4-9, 2020, currently hosting an FEI CSI 3* alongside national hunter/jumper competition.

For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 impacts, visit EC’s online statement and COVID-19 Resources webpage.

For updates on the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, visit traversecityhorseshows.com.

EC Media Contact / Personne-ressource de CE pour les médias : communications@equestrian.ca