Dear MCHS Community,
We hope under the current circumstances that all is well with you, and that you and your families are safe and healthy.
We regret to inform you that due to the continued uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Menlo Charity Horse Show is postponed to 2022.
As the COVID-19 situation has evolved, similar to any organization working to understand the viability of upcoming sport and recreational events, we have been monitoring progress toward a return to some semblance of normal. The primary factors we have evaluated are guidance provided by USEF and California state and local governments, consideration of our timeline and when a go / no-go decision must to be made irrespective of how complete and reliable the available information is, and speculation on what kind of show Menlo might be if we were to hold it under some version of the social restrictions we are all currently experiencing and are predicted to experience in a future that remains uncertain in the near to mid-term.
As with 2020, this decision was very difficult and disappointing, but unlike 2020 we are optimistic that we are collectively rounding the corner, and in that spirit, we are planning for a robust return of our historic and iconic horse show in 2022. This is where we will be focusing our efforts for the remainder of this year and into next year. We plan to surprise and delight our Menlo family with a series of events beginning later this year and culminating in a fabulous 2022 horse show celebrating our 50th Anniversary.
All this said, to reiterate what we said in 2020, the burden of this decision falls hard on many, but none more than Vista Center. The resulting loss of funding MCHS typically provides directly impacts their ability to provide essential services to the blind and visually impaired community. The loss to Vista and to their clients who need them now more than ever is potentially devastating. As we plan events for the build-up to the 2022 horse show, we will be organizing with our Committee, and among our broader Menlo family to include fundraising opportunities and goals in each of our events. We hope each of you will embrace this important goal of supporting Vista Center through-out and help us help them. And for those of you who would like to take action now, please click https://www.menlocharityhorseshow.com/donate to donate.
In closing, thank you all for your support, commitment and encouragement as we navigate together through this unprecedented and challenging time. Each of you have our deepest appreciation. Again, we hope you and your families are safe and well, and we look forward to working with you on fundraising for Vista, and seeing you again in person in happier times.
Best regards,
Menlo Co-Chairs
