Sunshine Tour Cancelled as Second Horse Presents with Symptoms of EHV-1

Shortly after the announcement that the 2021 Sunshine Tour would conclude early, organisers received notification from the FEI that all competition must be suspended immediately.

After the demonstration of the first neurological symptoms of the mare in isolation the FEI, RFHE, Ministry of Agriculture and the Organising Committee of the  Sunshine Tour reached a consensual agreement that competition would continue until Sunday the 7th March 2021, on the proviso the situation did not change.

On Friday, organisers received the results for the mare in isolation, of a second PCR test for the Herpes virus EHV-1 and EHV-4. These tests were taken Thursday 4th of March 2021, from two blood samples (blood with heparin and blood with EDTA).  Both samples returned with negative results.

However on Friday, a second horse entered into isolation with mild neurological symptoms.

This new situation means that the FEI considers that the urgent cancellation of the rest of the competition is imperative.

Organisers would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding, all the riders, owners, their teams, our sponsors and everyone else involved in the event.

Solidarity

Faced with the equine outbreak caused by the herpes virus EHV-1 that has particularly devastated the Valencian community and, specifically, the horses stabled at the CES Valencia Tour, the equestrian community has not been slow to respond to help requests and show its most humanitarian side.

The Sunshine Tour in conjunction with the International Jumping Riders Club have wanted to show solidarity with CES Valencia and all of those affected by this pandemic. In order to help they have organized and paid for the shipment of 60 portable stables to the Valencian facilities and the CEU Veterinary Clinic Hospital of Valencia.

These measures are intended to facilitate the veterinarians in the treatment of affected horses.

From the Sunshine Tour there is a call for responsibility. With the union and effort of all, we hope this pandemic can be controlled as soon as possible and our sector, now even more affected, can return to normal soon.

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Suzanne Ashton

Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.