Melbourne International event put off again due to pandemic
The pandemic has forced the cancellation of the Melbourne international event at Werribee Park, for the second year.
COVID’S presence continues to interfere with the lives of horse owners both here and overseas.
The famous Melbourne International Three-Day event was due to start from Thursday at Werribee Park but, with fences built and interstate competitors loading horses to attend, it was cancelled.
It suffered the same fate last year, which makes it more disappointing.
Despite this, organisers have looked ahead and agreed to aim to run CCI two, three and four-star Long format classes at the traditional Spring Horse Trials in September.
“We are conscious of the fact that many riders were needing their Melbourne result as a qualifier for events in latter part 2021 … hopefully this helps some of those riders,” event director Janet Houghton said.
“It will be a busy few days with classes also running from EvA80 through to CCI4*S. Dates will be September 10-12.”
Thoroughbred breeders in Victoria have also been affected, with the Inglis 2021 Great Southern Weanling Sale being postponed until July 3-4 and 5.
Overseas, Lyndal Oatley, based in Germany and one of the main contenders for the Tokyo Olympic dressage team, has decided not to continue.
“It is with great disappointment that I announce I have made the difficult decision, in consultation with my family and husband/trainer, to withdraw my horses Elvive and Eros from Tokyo 2020 Olympic contention,” Ms Oatley said.
“To represent your country at the Olympic Games is the ultimate goal and a privilege for any athlete. However, the impact of Covid-19 has presented significant challenges and has placed constraints on our preparation.
“Although both horses have qualified for the Games, Elvive and Eros are inexperienced at international level.
“While they show great promise for the future, I feel it’s too much to ask of both horses to be in the form I would want them to be in for the Games. My horses’ wellbeing will always come first, and we will instead look ahead to the World Equestrian Games in 2022,” Ms Oatley said.
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