Wellington, Florida may be home to the largest hunter/jumper and dressage competitions during the winter season, but the fear over this week’s virus outbreak and horse fatalities hits home with all horseowners in the area. Wellington is also a large center for polo, racetracks are nearby, and local owners have breeding, competition and pleasure horses whose health is of concern.

Mary Adams of The Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse Association has announced that the 2007 Fiesta Florida Horse Show, including the Rafael Soto Dressage Clinic and the Open Breed Dressage Freestyle Competition (unrated) has been cancelled. The events will be rescheduled, and new dates/venues will be announced by the Foundation in January 2007.

“The Fiesta Florida Show Committee reluctantly made the decision to reschedule the show based on information about the EHV-1 virus provided by State and local veterinarians. Though everyone is confident that this disease will be contained and would pose no real threat at Fiesta Florida, it was decided that due to the short time frame between the discovery of the virus, and the show, which was to have taken place January 19th-21st at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, the most responsible action would be to reschedule the events.

“The health and well-being of our horses is the primary concern here,” said Fiesta Florida Show Committee President, Kim Boyer.

For more information, call Mary Adams at 352-429-3336 or 352-217-9813 or email her at [email protected].