All West Australians welcomed the news this week that some of the Level 3 restrictions regarding COVID-19 have been relaxed in particular the 10 person rule.

The Equestrian WA Chairperson, Ron Fleming, Chief Executive Officer, Dwight Pedlow and some of the staff have met with all sports committees during the past week via teleconference to discuss the way forward for the Sport if and when community restrictions are relaxed.

Among some of discussion points to include the following:

• Suggested protocols to assist Equestrian WA Clubs to follow COVID requirements, the protocols will be circulated to Sport Committees and Clubs for feedback in their development. This document will be updated each time Government advice is updated.
• Equestrian WA has requested Equestrian Australia for the extension of Officials updating and reaccreditation for 12 months, this has resulted in all officials that are due for reaccreditation in 2021 remaining current until 2022. Eventing WA conducted updating of its officials in 2019 so all Eventing officials are current.
• Equestrian Australia will be making an announcement about the extension of the Coaching renewal period and associated cost soon.
• Each of the sports committees has been asked to develop ways to support their Sport during this period.
• Restarting competitions --  it is difficult to know when we will be able to start events and if it will be a requirement to start with small events followed by larger ones or the Sport being allowed to open all at once. Equestrian WA will continue to monitor the situation and plan for the many possibilities. We hope that our Championship titles in Jumping, Dressage, Show Horse and Interschools will go ahead in either October or November. And if this is possible, a review of current event dates will occur to restructure the last part of the year to allow as much competition as possible.
• Each Sport committee has also been asked to identify any Equestrian Australia rules that may require exemptions so that events can be held if interstate travel is not possible for officials and qualifying criteria for National Championships.
• We will be conducting a members survey in May to gauge the impact this crisis is having on the Sport and our members.
• Equestrian WA AGM -- The 2019 Annual Report with Audited accounts will be made available to all members in about two weeks as the audit is currently being finalised. The AGM is being delayed until later in the year when we can hopefully have a face-to-face meeting. This decision was made to allow for an SGM to amend the Equestrian WA Constitution regarding the Committee By-Laws as recommended at last year’s AGM.
• The closure of the SEC is continuously being monitored. It will be reviewed next week and a plan developed for opening when possible.

Equestrian WA will be applying for Lotterywest funding in the coming week. If we are successful, we will be developing a new budget for the remainder of 2020 and begin planning for 2021. We are still expecting that competition will resume in mid to late 2020 and will be preparing for this. We will also be planning if this is not the case. We are fully aware of the reduced 2020 competition year, and we will be reviewing membership options for 2021 once we know what this year brings.

We hope that you all remain well and if possible, please keep training your horses.

30/04/2020

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF THE STATE EQUESTRIAN CENTRE AND EQUESTRIAN WA OFFICE

Western Australia's coronavirus restrictions may have partially eased. However, the State Equestrian Centre remains closed. Please also note that the Equestrian WA office is closed at the moment due to the staff’s reduced hours. E-mails and calls are being monitored remotely on the revised office hours of Monday to Wednesday, though there may be a slight delay in response. Sorry for any inconvenience.

28/04/2020

AOC CELEBRATES CENTENARY ON WEDNESDAY 29TH APRIL

April 29th marks 100 years since the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) was founded.

Originally formed as the Australian Olympic Council on April 29th, 1920, the anniversary marks the formal separation of Australia and New Zealand from the combined “Australasia” entity which had competed in the 1908 London and 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games.

In 1920, the first Australia-only Team competed in Antwerp then in August 1923, the Australian Olympic Council changed its name to the Australian Olympic Federation – an identity it held until June 19, 1990 when it was re-named the Australian Olympic Committee.

Click here to read the full article

29/04/2020

SPORTWEST COVID-19 STATEMENT

SportWest has received member enquiries relating to recent COVID-19 announcements and general information from the Commonwealth and State governments. The messages coming from our governments appear more encouraging as the health data improves and trends positively.

In acknowledging people’s enthusiasm and desire to return to their preferred sports, SportWest attempts to clarify the current and evolving status for Western Australia. Our Closure and Restriction Directions (No 2) have moved from 2 people to a maximum of 10, but there is still strict compliance with social distancing requirements – people need to stay 1.5 metres apart and a minimum of 4 square metres per person.  A frequently asked questions page is available on the WA Government website on the cautious easing of restrictions.

Click here to read full statement

21/04/2020

EQUESTRIAN WA & MILNE FEEDS E-LEARNING CENTRE 

During the current COVID-19 situation, we realise that many people in the equine community are facing unique challenges as social distancing, while necessary, impacts our equine activities and affects our community interaction. Supporting the health and welfare of both riders and horses is paramount to Equestrian WA, therefore, together with our education partner Milne Feeds, we will be launching an online equine-community learning hub on our website with a wide variety of interactive content ranging from expert articles, educational videos and training segments from industry experts. With everything from riding tips, veterinary tutorials and pilates exercises you can do at home, there is something for everyone.

We are also excited to announce that the Milne Feeds Education Seminar will be resuming online with the first session scheduled on the 20th May! We've already got a few topics and speakers lined up, so stay tuned for more information!

21/04/2020

EA ONLINE HORSE TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

EA welcomes the participation of members in online training and educational activities during this period of COVID-19 shutdown that prevents riders from competing.

Virtual Dressage Horsesport, Virtual Showjumping Horsesport, Virtual Eventing Horsesport and online training is available so that riders can have their training assessed while adhering to the obligations of social/physical distancing.

Given the lack of usual controls afforded to an official competition, it is not possible for these on-line activities to assure participants of a level playing field in terms of assessment.

Click here to read full article

20/04/2020

LOCAL SPORT TO LOSE UP TO $41M AND 660 JOBS DUE TO COVID-19

State Sporting Associations will lose up to $41 million in revenue and more than 660 jobs are expected to be lost by the start of May due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A survey by SportWest, the peak industry body for sport in Western Australia, showed State Sporting Associations were expecting a 55 per cent reduction (246 jobs) in their full-time workforce and a 72 per cent cut (415 jobs) in casual staff by the start of May.

Combined revenue loses of up to 52 per cent were forecast for winter community sport.

Click here to read full media release

20/04/2020

FEI.TV AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE WHILE LIVE SPORT IS ON HOLD

FEI.TV, the FEI’s online television platform, will be providing all its coverage of past events and special equestrian features free of charge to everyone while live sport is on hold until end of June.

Under normal circumstances, FEI.TV live-streams all major FEI Series and Championships, with an extensive range of replays, special features and historic events coverage available on-demand combining to provide unparalleled coverage of equestrian sport year-round.

But with no live sport, access to FEI.TV will be free and existing subscribers will be compensated for the months of April, May and June. They will get automatically refunded on their account. All content on the platform, including VOD, will be freely available to all users who will need to register, meaning that fans can re-live all the action from past events so there’s no need to miss out on your fix of equestrian sport.

“Premium content like this usually sits behind a paywall and is normally available only to subscribers, but while there is no “live” sport, we want to give equestrian fans the chance to binge-watch for free during this terrible pandemic”

Click here to read full article

17/04/2020

MESSAGE FROM SPORT & RECREATION MINISTER MICK MURRAY

I am pleased to announce that the amendment to the relevant Lotterywest legislation required to establish the Lotterywest COVID-19 Relief Fund has passed through Parliament.

The Lotteries Commission Amendment (COVID-19 Response) Bill 2020 provides Lotterywest with temporary powers to more readily develop programs providing urgent financial relief to organisations including not-for-profit sporting groups, and will expedite the distribution of funding.

Funding will be available for sporting organisations to apply for through the Event Cancellation Relief for Arts, Sports and Community Groups program and the Resilient Arts, Sports and Community Groups program.

While the specific details and the opening and closing dates of these grant programs are still being worked through, I would encourage all organisations who believe they may be eligible for support to register by contacting Lotterywest on 133 77 or via grants@lotterywest.wa.gov.au to ensure they receive all the details about making an application as they become available.  I would also encourage State Sporting Associations to make sure that this information is relayed to your clubs and associations.

The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries has also developed a KidSport Club Support Package, which will include extending all voucher expiry dates until 30 June 2020 and placing refunds on hold whilst we work towards an option for this funding to remain within the sector. The Department is also exploring options around opening additional KidSport rounds once the COVID-19 related restrictions on sporting activities are lifted, to support getting kids back into sport.

Additionally, the State Government is considering how the State Sporting Infrastructure Fund can support maintenance and minor capital works projects to provide job creating work for small to medium construction firms.

Local governments are also being strongly encouraged by the State Government to bring forward infrastructure spending and commence infrastructure projects immediately where possible, to assist with maintaining jobs in the trade, construction and professional services industries.

In closing, I believe I speak for all of you in passing on our thanks to staff working in a range of government agencies supporting the sector through these difficult times. I know their work is appreciated by many.

23/04/2020

SADDLES PLUS EQUESTRIAN WA INTERSCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP 2020 WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT 

Massive thank you to all entrants and congratulations to primary rider,Mia Di Candilo and secondary rider, Eloise Trolove on winning the Saddles Plus Equestrian WA Interschool 2020 Scholarship announced earlier today via Saddles Plus Facebook livestream. 

As part of their scholarship, both riders will get 20% discount off full priced items at the Saddles Plus for the next 12 months and also a one-off 30% discount for a brand new saddle. On top of that, they will also receive a Saddles Plus shirt, jacket and saddle blanket too.

20/04/2020

RISING STARS CLINICS CONTINUE (VIRTUALLY!)

COVID-19 may have temporarily halted equestrian events but that doesn't mean that the learning stops for our 2020 Maitland Park Rising Stars. In partnership with our wonderful major sponsor, Gill Botten of Maitland Park, Rising Stars clinic content is being delivered virtually.

Course content covers material contained in the Introductory General Riding and Horse Management workbooks. With ample content to keep riders busy throughout April and May, the virtual clinics were designed to keep Introductory participants on track for their assessments, despite the current disruptions.

Last week, Introductory Rising Star riders were issued with their first General Riding online lesson. Lesson one started with the basics of ride movements and tracks (as voiced by our CEO, Dwight Pedlow). Riders are asked to examine each movement, make an assessment and - although they haven't been told this yet - they will be issued with a challenge to compile a video of themselves riding key movements. We look forward to sharing some of these videos as the virtual clinics progress.

The next phase will focus on Horse Management and, in particular, equine health and fitness. Riders can expect to see their next video shortly and will be asked to complete a series of tasks.

We are so pleased that we are able to continue the Rising Stars program in this format. We wish to sincerely thank Gill Botten for her support of this initiative and for being so generous with her time in preparing the content (plus a huge thank you to Sara Botten for being the videographer!). Finally, we would like to thank our Rising Stars participants for their enthusiasm toward this initiative. We look forward to seeing what you've been doing and sharing your successes with the wider EWA community.

23/04/2020

THREE-DAY EVENT SETS SIGHTS ON 2021

The Board of the Australian International 3-Day Event are today advising supporters and partners that this year’s event will be cancelled due the COVID-19 crisis.

The difficult decision was made by the Board last week after considering all options and follows the impact COVID-19 has on all Governments, events and communities.

Board Chair Greg Rolton said it was particularly disappointing given the success of last year’s event, which was a lead up to the now deferred Tokyo Olympic games.

Click here to read full statement

22/04/2020

THANK YOU FROM THE SHWA COMMMITTEE

Thank you to the many members who responded to our survey on the 2020 Horse of the Year.  We appreciate your input and the care you took in answering the questions. Your responses will be a great help in organising the event later in the year

The results from the survey can be viewed here.

Please note that there will be no qualification required for the 2020 Horse of the Year or the Saddles Plus 2020 Newcomers. Membership of EWA and a Show Horse Licence is all that is needed for HOTY and the Newcomers a Newcomers Card will also be required. 

Please note that any updates re-HOTY and the Nationals will be via the weekly Equestrian WA e-news and our Facebook page.