Balearen Tour Canceled for 2018

Shows

2018 Balearen Tour

The organizers of the CDI Mallorca regret to announce that the 2018 edition of the Balearen Tour has been canceled. Because the FEI was unable to provide exclusivity for Mallorca's planned dates in the autumn in 2017, the show lost its main sponsors and its financial viability to run the same high-end competition in 2018

"Unfortunately we did not get our requested dates for 2017," explained Gabriele Kofler, marketing manager for Finca Es Fangar. "Last year Portugal also booked a two-week period, exactly on the same dates we had applied for. The FEI saw no problem in having two big CDI's on the same dates located closely together. We were a bit surprised that as soon as we canceled the 2017 Balearen Tour, Lisbon's dates were adjusted to only one weekend and the FEI dropped the show from 4* to 3* level. We lost our main sponsors because of that."

The Balearen Tour was a highly unique international dressage competition hosted at Finca Es Fangar, an exclusive wine and equestrian estate in the rolling hills of Mallorca. The event was organized for the first time in 2015 as a 4* invitational and became a 5* FEI show in 2016 with the world's best riders attending, such as Isabell Werth, Helen Langehanenberg, and Beatriz Ferrer-Salat amongst others.

In 2017 the CDI Mallorca canceled its show when the FEI decided not to resolve a double date booking with the CDI Lisbon. In 2018 the FEI allowed for the same scenario.

"Because of this unfortunate situation, we lost our main sponsors in 2017, as they counted on a continuous event for the upcoming years," Kofler added. "We were unable to find new sponsors in 2018 with the same great engagement like our previous ones. Our vision and intention always was to organize the Balearen Tour as an invitational, so that all riders no matter their financial background had the chance to participate. Without sponsors this is not possible."

Kofler regrets that the FEI did not gauge the value of an established 5* dressage competition circuit, which had proven its worth and appeal to the sport for two consecutive years.

"The FEI seems to ignore the importance of pushing the dressage sport in a financial way. We have to pamper our sponsors. In 2017 one of our main sponsors planned a worldwide come-together It is a great pity for the international dressage sport," Kofler added. "We did our best to establish a high-end competition in Europe and promote the wonderful sport all over the world. We truly regret to announce this decision, but we have no choice. Without sponsors a show of this high level is not possible."

The Balearen Tour will therefore not take place in 2018, but the organizers are hopeful for 2019.