2020 WCHS Town Hall Video Available Now

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The Joint Leadership Council, comprised of members from the AHHS, AMHA, ARHPA, ASHA, and UPHA, hosted a Town Hall with the decision makers from the 2020 World’s Championship Horse Show. The Town Hall was held on Thursday, August 6 at 7:00 PM ET.

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The Joint Leadership Council was aware of the many questions and concerns members and exhibitors had around the upcoming World's Championship Horse Show. The Town Hall was organized to assist with communications and to allow members to hear directly from the show and other decision makers. We extend our gratitude to the 11 panelist that helped address questions and concerns of the 300 attendees.

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The panel included from Kentucky Venues: David Beck (CEO), Kevin Moore (General Manager of the Kentucky Expo Center), Shawn Hensler (Executive Director of Public Safety and Security), Chris Brawner (KY Venues Compliance Officer) from the WCHS: Scarlett Mattson (Manager), from the Kentucky State Fair Board: Hoppy Bennett, Tandy Patrick and Keith Rogers (representing Commissioner Ryan Quarles from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture) and from USEF: Bill Moroney (CEO), Lisa Owens (Competition Services Managing Director) and Katlynn Sacco (Competition Licenses, Evaluation and Safety Director).

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The full video of the Town Hall Meeting is available here.

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World’s Championship Town Hall FAQ

 

What are the Covid-19 protocols and procedures that are going to be in place to keep people safe?  Will temperatures be taken? 

The World’s Championship Horse Show will follow the USEF Covid-19 Action Plan for USEF Licensed Competitions in addition the the Kentucky Healthy at Work Horse Show Guidelines. Kentucky Venues meets regularly with local public health officials to ensure that all guests to the facility are kept safe. The most recent update to the USEF Covid-19 Action Plan available here.

 

Kevin Moore, Kentucky Expo Center General Manager, said that the air handlers in the North Wing and Freedom Hall would completely replace the inside air 2.5 times per hour with fresh air from the outside. 

 

WCHS will be utilizing an enhanced credentialing and scheduling system for all horse show related attendees to keep access limited to the areas of the horse show. Some of these safety enhancements include appointments for the horse show office (located between suites N-1 and N-2 this year), exhibitors will have additional credentials to access barn area, and grooms, trainers, and exhibitors only in Stopher’s Walk. In addition, only two gates will be open during the event (gates 1 and 4) and temperatures will be taken at those gates every time you enter the Fairgrounds. Attendants (or grooms) will be required to get a daily temperature check at the old horse show office.

 

In addition, any important safety alerts will be reported to ASHA to be sent out as push notifications on the ASHA Mobile App that is available to anyone free during the WCHS.

 

Does the WCHS or Kentucky Venues have a contingency plan in place to deal with a positive Covid-19 case at the show?

Yes. Along, with contingency plans outlined by the USEF and Kentucky Healthy at Work, Kentucky Venues staff will coordinate with public health officials to deal with a positive Covid-19 case at the show. Both facility and USEF competition leadership stress the importance of communication and transparency of health information to assure the threat of any potential positive case is limited.

 

If a positive case happens in the North Wing will that entire wing have to be evacuated? 

No. The location of a positive case in the North Wing will determine what areas need to be evacuated. Chris Brawner, Kentucky Venues Compliance Officer, was concerned that if a positive case were to occur in the stalls close to the main entrance to the North Wing it might require a large scale evacuation. However, Scarlett Mattson, WCHS Manager, has since worked with Kentucky Venues staff to remove stalls around the main entrance to the North Wing to allow approximately 100 feet of open space, which will help reduce the likelihood of a large evacuation.

 

The Governor has recommended individuals self-quarantine for 14 days if they have been to states with high positive Covid-19 testing rates. How does that effect individuals traveling from those states to the show?  Chris Brawner, Kentucky Venues Compliance Officer, said they will not be checking to see what states that the participants are coming from. It will be up to the individuals coming from the states in question to self-quarantine and make sure they are Covid-19 free or not exhibiting any Covid-19 symptoms. KY Healthy at Work Requirements available here.

 

How will the security plan change with the Fair being cancelled? Will the Kentucky State Police still have a presence? Will all gates be secured 24 hours a day? 

Shawn Hensler, Kentucky Venues Director of Public Safety and Security, said that since the Fair is now only open to participants, it will move from a public event to a private event, which will have a positive impact on public safety and security. Horse show and agricultural competition participants will now be the only guests allowed on the property. The Kentucky State Police along with the Louisville Fire Department will continue to have an onsite presence and all gates will be secured 24 hours a day. Also, when asked about golf cart traffic to and from the show and hotels, Mr. Hensler suggested that participants take their personal vehicles instead of golf carts, because Louisville Metro Police will not be directing traffic on Phillips Lane since the Fair is now closed to the public.

 

In addition, any important safety alerts will be reported to ASHA to be sent out as push notifications on the ASHA Mobile App that is available to anyone free during the WCHS.

Shawn Hensler also suggested that participants read the following links that provide simple tips to assure personal safety outside of the Fairgrounds: Louisville Police Personal Safety, The Way to be Streetwise, and Vehicle Safety.

 

Will attendants (or grooms) be allowed to stay with horses 24 hours a day? 

Yes. Scarlett Mattson, WCHS Manager, confirmed that attendants (or grooms) will be allowed to stay with horses 24 hours a day.

 

Who will be able to attend the WCHS and how will the seating work in Freedom Hall? 

Participants will be able to purchase wristbands from the horse show office that will give them access to watch all sessions of the show. Participants are defined by USEF as owners, lessees, riders, athletes, parents, drivers, trainers, coaches, grooms, personal care assistants and other required support personnel/staff that are essential for providing care to the horses and/or athletes. Freedom Hall seating will be spaced out per consultation with public health officials and Covid-19 guidelines.

 

Will food be available in the stabling area and in Freedom Hall?  Yes. Scarlett Mattson, WCHS Manager, confirmed that food will be available in the stabling area. However, Kentucky Venues has not made a decision yet on whether food will be available in Freedom Hall.

 

Will there be any changes to trailer and parking access for WCHS attendees?

Scarlett Mattson, WCHS Manager, said trailer unloading and loading for exhibitors will be the same as it has been every year. The only possible change for trailers is that the cancellation of the Fair may allow trailer parking to be closer to barns this year. Either way the trailer parking area will be continued to be secured 24 hours a day. Parking passes for exhibitors are still available and the VIP parking area will have additional spaces around the west side of the make-up area of Freedom Hall.

 

Watch full video of 2020 WCHS Town Hall hosted by Joint Leadership Council