Israeli Equestrian rider Dan Kramer, who is scheduled to participate in the world championships next month, generated a controversy in the industry after announcing in a letter to the horseracing federation that he decided not to participate in the competition because it will take place on Yom Kippur.

The horse racing federation hopes to compete for the first time in history at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020, and convened a team that includes Kramer and four naturalized citizens: Daniel Bluman of Colombia, Alberto Michen of Mexico, and Americans Ashley Bond and Daniel Goldstein.

But if Kramer does not compete, the chances of the team obtaining entry to the Olympics will decrease as it is one of the most important ranking competitions.

The association's leaders were aware of the championship dates, taking place in South Carolina, but did not take action until an Israeli riding enthusiast sent a letter to the Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev, warning her that the team intended to compete on Yom Kippur.

Subsequently, the head of the sports section of the ministry, Ofer Bustan, asked the chairman of the riding association, Kenny Lalo, whether efforts were being made to postpone the competition.

In response, Eli Haham, Director General of the riding federation, said: "The International Association of Sport Riding has announced that this is a complex issue on the technical and organizational level, but it is examining the appeal positively and is trying to do everything possible to find a suitable solution."

In any case, Kramer decided that he would not compete on Yom Kippur, and any attempts to persuade him to change his mind failed. Kramer, who currently resides in Belgium, wrote a letter to Lalo saying: "I decided not to join the other members of the Israeli national team and not to participate in the upcoming world championships in the United States, because the competition is taking place on Yom Kippur and I want to honor this day as well as the Israeli public and Jewish Diaspora.

"I think that it will be a serious mistake in judgment to compete on this holy day, despite the sporting implications of not participating in such a major and important competition that will hurt my international score and my, and my horse's, chances of reaching the Olympics. As far as I’m concerned, this is not a matter of personal choice. As a Jewish athlete and a proud Israeli, I do not intend to offend the sensitivities of the Israeli public and the Jewish world in general and compete on our holiest day,” the letter continued.

"I do not intend to compete ‘below the radar,’ as has been hinted to me more than once in my conversations with key people in the federation, because I believe that every performance by an Israeli team should be a heart-warming affair that fills every Israeli and Jew with pride." Kramer also criticized the federation’s conduct, arguing that efforts to postpone the competition began too late. Read more at YNET