The Badminton Horse Trials for many is the highlight of the equestrian year. Although the news of this year’s event being canceled has been met with disappointment, surely no one will blame the organizers when the decision has been made with the welfare and safety of competitors at heart, reports Nicola Strong.
The Badminton Horse Trials had been due to take place between Thursday and Monday of this week.
Event director Hugh Thomas said: "The recent exceptional rainfall has left the ground at Badminton totally waterlogged and partially flooded. Further rain is due this week, leaving no chance of the ground drying out."
Flooding problems for horse trials
Recent exceptional rainfall has left the ground at Badminton totally waterlogged and partially flooded.
"Purchasers of advance tickets, exhibitors, sponsors and riders will of course be refunded as soon as is practical."
The event has only been canceled once before, in 2001, due to foot-and-mouth disease.
The Badminton Horse Trials are considered by many to be the pinnacle of the British Eventing calendar. For many spectators, it is the highlight of the equestrian year, and draws in crowds of around 200,000.
Preparation begins months and months ahead of time, course building, organizing ticket sales, trade stands, publicity, entries etc, and this year no amount of preparation could cope with the wettest ‘drought’ known to man; prolonged torrential rain has led to water logging and flooding, and with yet more rain forecast, the organizers had no choice but to cancel the event.
This year in particular BHT would have offered the perfect opportunity to help decide the final places for Olympic hopefuls. Each rider will no doubt now be reviewing the situation, and looking for alternatives.