SEPTEMBER 2020 THE RIDER /45


Exclusive to the Digital Edition of The Rider


SEPTEMBER 2020 Vol. 2, Issue No. 1


London International Horse Show Cancelled


Olympia, The London In- ternational Horse Show 2020 – Cancellation An- nouncement


September 14th , 2020


The Organising Committee of Olympia, The London In- ternational Horse Show an- nounced today that with great regret it has taken the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Show. Over the last few


months, the Olympia organ- ising team has been looking at multiple scenarios to try to stage the indoor Show with the health and welfare of everyone involved at the heart of that decision-mak- ing process. Reluctantly, it has been concluded that it is not possible to run the event in December 2020 given the commercial implications of the government social dis- tancing guidelines and the numerous additional Covid- 19 safety requirements. Unfortunately,


this


means that the Olympia fea- ture events, including the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™, the Olympia Grand Prix, the Puissance, the FEI Dressage World


felt by our competitors, of- ficials, sponsors and partic- ularly our


trade stand


exhibitors, who would have been particularly looking forward to the Christmas boost that Olympia gives them.


“Olympia holds a spe-


cial place in the equestrian world’s hearts. Generations of families have held their Christmas parties at the Show and many will not be able to imagine a Christmas without a visit to Olympia. However, we are looking forward to being back in 2021, with a bumper Show to celebrate our 50th an- niversary. “I am extremely grate-


Cup™ and the FEI Driving World Cup™ qualifiers will not be held in 2020, along with the international dis- plays and all of the tradi- tional Olympia festive entertainment. Simon Brooks-Ward,


Show Director, said: “My father, together with Clarion Events, started the Olympia Horse Show in 1972 and it has run every year since, meaning that


this year


would have been our 49th show. My brothers and I


have attended every Show and therefore I completely empathise with the sadness felt by our visitors, who will not be cheering, laughing, and clapping in the Grand Hall this year. I also under- stand the disappointment


ful for the supportive mes- sages we have received from the equestrian commu- nity over the summer and am only sorry that we are unable to be with them at Olympia this Christmas.” The 2021 edition of


Olympia, The London Inter- national Horse Show will return from Wednesday 15 – Monday 20 December.


Plantation Field Equestrian Events, Inc. (PFEE), a Non-Profit 501 (c)(3) Corporation, Loses Property Lease


September 16, 2020 — Unionville, PA — We are sad to announce today that Cuyler Walker, a PFEE Board member


approached the equestrian media and the United States Eventing Association in June, 2020 to state that they felt the name “Plantation” was insensitive to people of color.


tory of this property: in the 1930’s Plunket Stewart, who had purchased land in the early twentieth century,


Let me explain the his-


landowner of Plantation Field, has with great regret cancelled our lease for the property on which the Plan- tation Field International Three-Day Event is held. This is directly due to the at- tack on the name “Planta- tion” by Eventing Nation, an equestrian online news journal. EN and their editors


and


allowed the Boy Scouts to use a section of the property to plant hedges and trees. The dictionary defines the word “Plantation” as “an area in which trees have been planted”. Colonial Pennsylvania considered properties less than 100 acres a farm and properties with more than 100 acres a plantation. There is no refer- ence to race in this defini- tion.


historically a Quaker com- munity. The Quakers were one of the earliest abolition- ist groups and fought against slavery. This area was also part of the under- ground railroad. On a personal level,


The Unionville area is


PFEE and the Unionville community have long sup- ported Work to Ride, an or- ganization in Philadelphia created with dedication by Lezlie Hiner, that gives dis-


advantaged, often minority, youth an opportunity to ride. This program has had im- pressive results with Ka- reem Rosser, who is an outstanding polo player, and who has taken lessons from PFEE Board member and Olympians Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton. The editors of Event-


ing Nation have aggres- sively led the campaign against the name Plantation Field. Consequently the USEA and USEF have since notified PFEE that they would not use the word “Plantation” in any media or articles. Plantation Field Equestrian Events, Inc. is the legal name of the Corpo- ration and we will not ac- cept censoring of our First Amendment rights. I want it clearly stated


resident of


that as a member of the USEA since 1960 and as a longtime


years supporting the sport of Eventing in every capacity, I am extremely disappointed in the lack of leadership at the National level in dealing with this situation. This event welcomes riders from Elementary to the 4* level at multiple competitions at the local, National and Interna- tional level each year. It is


Cuyler’s decision was his feeling that he and his fam- ily were being called racist. He will not have his grand- parents’ generous support of the Boy Scouts vilified by Eventing Nation and the USEA. Having spent sixty


Unionville, I find it incredi- bly sad that the staff at a publication who do not un- derstand the history of the area are directly causing the end of one of the best and most consistent events in the country. A major factor in


also local to numerous pro- fessional riders including several Olympians. The loss of Plantation Field will be a huge loss to the entire equestrian community. Denis Glaccum


President, Plantation Field Equestrian Events, Inc.


national Horse Trials is a unique destination for equestrian sport. Nestled in the heart of Pennsylvania hunt and steeplechase coun- try, our rolling hills contain a rich history of equestrian activity. Find out more at our website and get in- volved today with the Plan- tation Field International CCI4*-S, CCI3*-S, CCI2*- S held September 16-20, 2020.


About Plantation Field Plantation Field Inter-


See Page 47


Check out these stories inside!


Surviving Lockdown on


Horseback - See Pg 47


The Knabstrupper Horse


- Page 47


In Memoriam Jim Paulsen


Page 46


The Capital Challenge is


Coming - See


Page 48


William Fox-Pitt Dares


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