07/11/2024
On Sunday, although there were over 100 trips in the Main Ring, three horses fell and LIHS and OFF are concerned. Long Island Horse Shows and Old Field Farm, Ltd. take these matters seriously and are deeply committed to safety. Although we all know horse sports come with risk, we want everyone to be as safe as possible and any fall of a rider or horse is always a great concern. There were no visible anomalies in the footing observed as per the members of the staff and course designer, who continuously monitor conditions. No riders or trainers reported any irregularities in the footing either during warm up session or during competition nor did any of the affected riders report an unusual footing condition. The ring was dragged prior to the start of the competition, after schooling and multiple times during the show day. The judge, steward and horse show personnel convened to discuss the matter. The horse show EMT cleared all three riders to return to competition of which two returned to complete successful rounds. Until this can be fully addressed, the Main Ring will be closed for proper analysis and an appropriate solution identified. As one can imagine, this takes time. We thank everyone for their support during this challenging time. Please know Long Island Horse Shows and Old Field Farm Ltd. are actively engaged to address this matter to continue to bring good quality horse shows to Long Island equestrians.