The CES Valencia Spring Tour in Spain is often a go-to event for many top riders around the world. With fantastic showjumping, glorious sunshine, and high levels of competition, there are always several notable names from countries across the world including France, the Netherlands, Brazil, and more. Our very own South African sensation, Alexa Stais, has also been in attendance at the CES Valencia Spring Tour and her results speak to her level of talent as she claimed victory in several events.
The event that runs over 7 weeks hosts classes for every height category as well as young horse competitions. Alexa Stais set off to Spain with her competition horses and has not been disappointed with their performances. The second week of the competition was the setting for great rounds and speedy jump-offs as Lexi claimed victory in the 1* Grand Prix with Lucato Mad Jo. Quintato stepped back into the arena in fine form to earn 6th place in the 2* Grand Prix and the new redhead on the block, Cera, showed that the new partnership is already a great success with a 2nd place in the 1.40m competition.
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As the 3rd week rolled around, the Hilmar Meyer team would end their show and head back to Germany but not before Lexi and Cera really stepped up to the plate to secure the victory in the CSI3* 1.45m competition. With the pair last to go into the competition, it was an all or nothing moment and despite the partnership being a few weeks old, the class was theirs. The final result to be brought in for Lexi and the team was a 6th place in the 3* 1.40m finals on the 8-year-old mare Taina M&M. But while the team concluded their successful show, news broke of a viral outbreak which has caused the remainder of the event to be stopped.
A statement was made by the International Jumping Riders Club following information received from the FEI regarding the outbreak. “The FEI Veterinary Department has been advised of an outbreak of the Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) at the CES Valencia Spring Tour (ESP). It is likely that the disease has been transferred to horses that have attended the venue since at least 1 February 2021.” The statement continued, “In accordance with the FEI Veterinary Regulations, Article 1029.7, horses that have attended Valencia since 1 February 2021 are blocked in the FEI database and will not be permitted to enter and FEI Events until they have fulfilled the testing requirements detailed in the attached letter.”
“Any horse travelling with a fever is not only a potential carrier and therefore likely to spread the virus to all other horses in the transport, but is an extreme risk of developing shipping fever or the more serious neurological form of EHV. It is also a violation of EU transport-legislation to travel with a sick horse, except for transport to veterinary facilities. Only symptom-free horses should travel and horses leaving Valencia must have their temperature taken prior to travel. We have informed the organisers of the other Tours on the Iberian Peninsula of the situation and instructed them that they must not accept any horses that have been competing at Valencia.”
This outbreak has caused much concern for all attendees of the event, however, the swift and responsible action of the show organisers and the FEI has been commended by the athletes. The show organiser, Charo Ortells Torregrosa, issued a statement regarding the situation.
“With tears in my eyes, I must say that this situation has affected all the riders and the organizing committee. At the moment we have no more news that one of the horses tested has tested negative for Rhinoneumonie, we must wait for the results of the rest of the horses, which the laboratory will provide us in the following days.” He continued, “We have all been victims of a contagious virus that has made us have to suspend the last day of competition in the middle of the 4th week and the 5th week of Spring Tour. We want to thank our team so much for how they have handled this in the best possible way, the veterinarians of the contest for their work and dedication, and those riders who have been aware of the seriousness of the matter and have supported us and respected our difficult decisions. We will keep you informed of the situation.”
📣𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 📣 (scroll down for Spanish) 🇬🇧With tears in my eyes, I must say that this situation has…
Posted by CES Valencia Tour on Monday, 22 February 2021
The event has been suspended until such time as further test results have been returned and the safety of the horses has been verified. For Alexa, her show was nearly complete, however, several of her rides have had to remain until such time as they have been cleared for travel. We wish all the competitors and their horses well.
-The JumpOff-
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