Lexington, KY (March 18, 2020) – The United States Dressage Federation™ (USDF) Executive Board held an emergency meeting on Tuesday, March 17, to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 virus on the US dressage community. At this meeting, the USDF Executive Board voted that, effective immediately, all results processing will cease through April 15, 2020. As a result, any scores earned at USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized competitions during this time will not be applicable to any USDF championship or awards programs, nor be recorded as a part of a horse or rider's official record with USDF. This will also apply to scores earned at schooling competitions participating in the USDF Regional Schooling Show Awards Program. USDF will continue to assess the situation on a daily basis and will update our position as circumstances warrant.

Additionally, the USDF Executive Board voted to waive their existing policy for any USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized competition that chooses to cancel their event, due to this decision, to be refunded any USDF Competition Recognition fee paid, in full, within 30 days of the notice of cancellation to USDF.  Additionally, show management of any cancelled competitions shall refund all USDF Regional Dressage Championship qualifying ride fees paid. Fees paid for the purpose of participating in the USDF Regional Schooling Show Awards Program, by affected schooling competitions, will also be refunded, in full, within 30 days of notice to USDF.

It was also decided that any USDF organized or hosted educational events scheduled through the weekend of May 22-24, 2020, will be cancelled with the intention to reschedule them for a future date.

USDF President Lisa Gorretta spoke of the decisions, “We have not made these decisions without careful consideration of the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic upon our members, staff, volunteers, the sport, and our entire dressage community. Following the lead of our NGB, US Equestrian, for this initial period of the suspension of results will allow us to monitor this national emergency and the directions of the CDC and other authorities, in order to address future developments and issues as they may arise. We are hopeful that our country will benefit from swift actions from everyone and a resulting shorter duration of this life-threatening virus outbreak.”

To access Coronavirus Resources, visit the USEF website at https://www.usef.org/media/coronavirus-resources. Or, for more information about USDF's decisions, to ask questions, or for the most up-to-date status of USDF, please visit the USDF website at www.usdf.org, or follow us on social media.

Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, email [email protected], or call (859) 971-2277.