The cancellations of major international jumping events continue, and start stretching into the indoor season as Helsinki International Horse Show has announced that the 2020-edition of the traditional event will not take place as planned. Scheduled for 22-25 October 2020, the event was supposed to host the second leg of the Longines FEI World Cup in the Western European League. This is the second leg of the 2020/2021 Western European League to be cancelled, after IFEMA Madrid Horse Week in May announced the cancellation of their event that was scheduled for late November. 

"The Helsinki International Horse Show, and the Longines FEI World Cup Leg, moves to October 2021. The 36th edition of the biggest annual indoor sports event in Finland is hit by the Covid-19 crisis, and faces too many challenges with regard to the upcoming event in October 2020," reads a statement from the organisers. 

“It’s with great regret that we are forced to announce our difficult decision to cancel this year's Horse Show,” says event director Tom Gordin in the statement. “Having all facts currently available, and estimations based on discussion with numerous experts on health issues, as well as sports people, we face a scenario which has too many extremely high risk consequences,” Gordin continues. “Late cancellation due to new restrictions, on travelling, border crossing and especially restrictions on visitor numbers allowed in same tight indoor venue, are only a part of the high-risk factors. Additionally sponsors and exhibitors withdrawing or decreasing input play a big role in the event budget. Less ticket sales, due to social distance challenges or lack of vaccine are essential risk factors too,” explains Gordin.

“We have discussed this delicate matter with both the Equestrian Federation of Finland and the FEI. Both organisations are in understanding of our painful decision. We are now focusing totally on 2021, with the new 3-year contract of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup TM starting. We are convinced that we are able to produce a high-class 36th Helsinki Horse Show on October 20-24, 2021,” ends Gordin in the statement.