Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic continues to cause show cancellations. After being forced into cancelling their indoor events last year, the organisers of both CSI5*-W Stuttgart German Masters and CSI4* Jumping Indoor Maastricht have this week announced that their shows – both scheduled for November – have been taken off the calendar for 2021 as well.
The Stuttgart German Masters is host to one of the legs in the Longines FEI World Cup Western European League, which yet again looks likely to fall victim to Covid-19 restrictions as the traditional stop in Helsinki also was cancelled earlier this summer.
“It was and is a difficult decision for us as organisers, but it simply can’t go ahead. We cannot ignore and fulfil the prevailing regulations and requirements, including the health and safety laws. The horse show is simply the biggest and most complex event in our ‘Hallenduo’,” said Andreas Kroll, the CEO of the in.Stuttgart Veranstaltungsgesellschaft, in a statement from Stuttgart German Masters.
Also Ward Vleugels, chairman of the JIM Foundation, pointed out the difficulties caused by Covid-19 in a statement from the organisers of Jumping Indoor Maastricht: "This difficult decision is based on the great uncertainty that still exists regarding the development of the Covid-19 virus. The health, social and financial risks are too high."