For Immediate Release – Feb. 2, 2021 – Oklahoma City, Okla. – The European Executive Board of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) has made the difficult decision to move the already postponed 2020 NRHA European Futurity from March to April 17-24, 2021, in Cremona, Italy. It will run concurrently with the 2020 Italian Reining Horse Association/Italian Reining Horse Breeders Association Futurity and Italian Championship Finals.
As COVID-19 began to spread across the globe in 2020, changes and accommodations were made to every aspect of livelihood. As with every other industry, those involved with reining learned to evolve and adapt, evidenced by canceled and postponed shows. While many hoped the pandemic would slow in 2021, there are places still unsafe for people to safely travel.
“The European Executive Board and NRHA staff feel this is the best decision to move forward at this time,” noted Sam Oldfield, NRHA Director of Competition and Education and European Liaison. “Our management team for the event had been monitoring the situation closely and was prepared with dates should the March dates not prove possible. With the pandemic continuing worldwide, we felt it would be difficult for our European riders to travel across borders for the Futurity.”
While Oldfield is optimistic about the upcoming Futurity, noting COVID-19 protocols that will be in place at the event, she cautioned that the situation is still a fluid one. “As the pandemic is still prevalent in many areas, these new dates could still change. We will do our best to make decisions and notify our members as soon as possible should this be the case,” she said.
The 2021 European Futurity is currently scheduled for November 13-20, 2021, in Cremona, Italy during the 2021 Italian Reining Horse Association/Italian Reining Horse Breeders Association Futurity and Italian Championship Finals.
To keep up with the latest news about the European Futurity, visit nrhaeuropeanfuturity.com.