2021 Great Western Pleasure Ride Update
In light of recent circumstances, and in consultation with relevant authorities following the Premier's message earlier this week regarding the lockdown period being extended "indefinitely", the committee has made the very difficult decision to cancel this years' event.
We appreciate that many were looking forward to joining us again in Great Western and focusing on the event as a means to get through the coming weeks and growing uncertainty, however it's extremely unlikely we will be able to hold the event in 5 short weeks. Even if we could proceed, we wouldn't be permitted to have 150 people and wouldn't feel comfortable running the event for only a select few when we have such a large contingent of loyal followers.
As we said last year when we also had to make the same difficult decision, the health, safety, and wellbeing of all attendees, event coordinators, volunteers, and our amazing land owners must come first. We also know that some haven't been able to see your horses during the lockdowns or do much preparation riding either, and whilst we make decisions for the welfare of the people who attend our event, we also need to make welfare decisions on behalf of our horses too. There's no ride without them after all.
You may notice that we haven't created a 2022 event to book online. Please know that if we can hold the event next year we definitely will, and will be back with the same level of enthusiasm and commitment we always have. Whilst we would like to think 12-months from now will be a very different landscape and our much-loved event can once again take place, we're going to see how things progress over the coming months and will open up the online registration portal in due course. For now, the best thing to do is ensure you're following our Facebook page and check back on this website periodically. We will also be sure to email those who registered for the 2021 event first and give you priority access to the 2022 tickets when they're available.
We will be processing full refunds for everyone who has registered this year from today (31/08/2021). The funds will take 5-7 business days to be deposited back onto the same card you originally paid with, however please reach out to us via the form on our website if you haven't received it by mid-September.
We would like to thank you all for being such a wonderfully understanding and supportive group of people and look forward to hopefully seeing you sometime soon. Please keep yourselves and your loved ones safe during this difficult time and remember this isn't forever, we just need to band together for a little while longer and we will get through it.
Over and out for now,
The Committee.