2020 A YEAR IN REVIEW
BD continued with their virtual show format until 1st July .
JULY
July arrived and nearly all equestrians came back to the circuit with a BANG ! With all competition resuming in its usual style , alongside indoor arenas opening their doors once again , all seemed well .
However , the financial impact of COVID-19 was becoming apparent , as major equestrian events were cancelled , charity centres reported cash flow problems and smaller venues concentrated on other efforts to raise vital funds .
Despite this good news , mass events were still affected with high profile shows , including the Horse of The Year Show , ( HOYS ) all taking a hit . With Grandstand media announcing the cancellation of HOYS , Stoneleigh Horse Show soon followed suit .
However , all was not lost . The team at Bolesworth in Cheshire , stepped up to take on the mammoth task of hosting the 2020 British Showjumping National Championships .
AUGUST
Even more restrictions were lifted nationwide in August ; World No . 1 event rider , Oliver Townend set a new world record at Burgham International Horse Trials for the highest number of international eventing classes ever won at a single event in the modern era . Cumulating three wins over four consecutive days there was no question
as to why Townend has such titles under his belt .
Despite achievements worth celebrating , British Eventing continued to feel the impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic . A shock announcement was made mid-month that Oxfordshire-based 4 * eventing fixture , Blenheim Horse Trials would not return for 2021 . Frequented by a selection of the sport ’ s most innovative winners , Blenheim Horse Trials was one of the only equestrian events to host a CCI4 * - L and CIC4 * -S over one weekend . The RoR Championships , hosting classes from Prelim to Elementary was a popular integration , which offered diversity to the field of competitive action , with other eventing challenges at 90 & 100cm ( BE90 / BE100 ) popular with Grassroot competitors .
August was tinged with sadness as the equestrian world said farewell to of the most prolific eventing stallion of all-time , Chilli Morning . The news came as a huge shock to eventing fans and , of course , to those around him .
SEPTEMBER
September was a month where we were expected to welcome Team GB home from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games . Though , with COVID-19 slashing those dreams once again , a quiet season of competition continued , with big names getting back to training and competition more locally .
However , we did see international show-jumping back on British soil as the grounds of Hickstead hosted the Science
NHS frontline nurse , Beatrice Vaughan , made the brave move to launch her brand-new business venture , Equestrian Giveaways , four months ahead of schedule .
Supplements All England Jumping Championships 2020 . Attracting big names to the venue , the competitor line-up included riders such as Olympic silver medal-winning eventer , Nicola Wilson ; World Equestrian Games Team GB Showjumper , Holly Smith and Irish international success , Trevor Breen .
OCTOBER & NOVEMBER
Without the thrill of HOYS , the start of winter was looking sparse for the competitive scene . With last year ’ s lineup star-studded with equestrians such as Robert Whitaker and Harriet Nuttall , the loss of the staple fixture in the 2020 calendar was a sad sight to see for both competitors and spectators .
Devastating decisions were also made in international competition , with the sad loss of the 2020 FEI Driving World Championships too . However , with COVID-19 cases beginning to surge , the decision was taken with everybody ’ s best interests in mind .
DECEMBER
This December also seems to look slightly lacklustre with the loss of Olympia announced in September . The six-day extravaganza was on track to host FEI World Cup Dressage , Driving and Jumping World Cup
14 • EVERYTHING HORSE : DECEMBER 2020