The Dutch Masters 2021 is cancelled

UPDATE: Organisers of The Dutch Masters have now decided to go on with the event later on in April 2021. For more information, please follow THIS LINK. 

We received breaking news this morning as organisers of The Dutch Masters cancelled the event due to the rapid evolution of the Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1). 

Initially, The Dutch Masters was planned as an online event due to COVID-19 with no spectators. However, yesterday the FEI released the news that international shows are cancelled in 10 European countries until the end of March 2021. 

The decision comes from FEI headquarters and covers events in France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Poland, Netherlands, Germany and Slovakia. 

The neurological form of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) originated in Valencia, Spain, and has already resulted in outbreaks in at least three other European countries. This virus causes incoordination, lethargy, respiratory disease and occasionally neonatal mortality in horses. EHV-1 is a common DNA virus that occurs in horse populations and spreads easily with direct horse-to-horse contact or indirectly through contaminated objects as human hands. 

FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez declared: “This strain of EHV-1 is particularly aggressive and has already caused equine fatalities and a very large number of severe clinical cases. We need to keep our horses safe.” 

We hope to see more equestrian competitions this year as the spread of EHV-1 slows down.