“We’re different,” said Lori Martin, executive director of the Lake Placid Horse Show Association. “Our sport is such that we’re considered not a high-contact sport. In other words, we don’t get clusters of people. It’s basically horse and rider.”

Other major competitions in Lake Placid either include high-risk sports such as hockey, rugby and lacrosse or feature thousands of people competing side-by-side. Those events include the Ironman Lake Placid triathlon, Summit Lacrosse tournaments, Can-Am Rugby Tournament and hockey tournaments at the Olympic Center.

After taking the 2020 season off due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Lake Placid Horse Show Association earlier this month announced dates for its 2021 events. The Lake Placid Horse Show will be held from June 29 to July 4 and feature the $100,000 Richard M. Feldman Grand Prix. The I Love New York Horse Show will be held from July 6 to 11 and feature the $100,000 Great American Insurance Group Grand Prix, $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and International Hunter Derby Regional Championships (North).

Martin said she’s not sure how many spectators will be allowed at the North Elba Show Grounds, as far as percentage of capacity. Therefore, she won’t be renting bleachers.

“We’re just going to tell everybody, ‘Bring a lawn chair and social distance. Wear your mask.’ And if the guidelines change, then we’ll go with the guidelines,” she said.

In terms of horse participation, they should be fine.

“As far as I know, all the horse shows are running at full capacity,” Martin said, adding that shows at places such as the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida are still taking place. “And their entries are through the roof.”

Martin said she still expects to require masks and sanitizing stations at the horse shows. They may have to make some adjustments to the food service to adhere to the guidelines. And she plans to hire some people to go around and be the “COVID police” to make sure everybody’s abiding by the rules.

The Lake Placid Horse Shows are one of the premier stops on the nation’s hunter-jumper horse show circuit. Using the North Elba Show Grounds, the venue includes a tent city of sorts for the stables to keep their horses.

In a prepared release, Lake Placid Horse Show Association Board of Directors Chairman Philip Richter said his confidence in hosting the 2021 events is bolstered by the nationwide rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

“The safety and welfare of our competitors and their families, in addition to our sponsors, vendors, spectators and staff, will remain our top priority and anything can change, but we fully anticipate a safe and exciting return to Lake Placid for our 51st edition this summer,” he said. “We recently met with local Lake Placid business leaders and they are ready to roll out the red carpet and welcome the horse show community back in grand style.”

For more information on the Lake Placid Horse Shows, visit online at http://www.lakeplacidhorseshows.com/.