Tattersalls International Horse Trials is in financial trouble.
The organisers say it may not run next year unless it can gain additional funding from Horse Sport Ireland (HSI).
“Attracting outside funding has been difficult from the outset – and even more so in the current economic climate,” said Roger Casey, finance director of Tattersalls Ireland.
“Yet again in 2012, we found ourselves committing to the event without any reciprocal commitment from Horse Sport Ireland. “
Tattersalls Ireland, which has sponsored the event for seven years, needs a “guaranteed funding plan” in place by 1 October, said Mr Casey.
“If we are unable to achieve this, we will regrettably be forced into a position where we are unable to host the 2013 event,” he said.
The loss of Ireland’s premier event would leave it with just one CCI*** – Ballindenisk.
Eventing Ireland’s Georgia Stubington told H&H: “It [Tattersalls] is obviously a terribly important event in the calendar and it would be desperate to lose it.
“But it’s early days and I’m sure everyone will do their best to keep it going.”
Damian McDonald of HSI said a meeting was due to take place next month to discuss funding of the event.
But the date to commit to contributing to Tattersalls is before HSI knows its budget.
“Tattersalls is an outstanding event and I am sure we will be in a position significantly to support it again next year,” he said.
“However, we are not in a position to give a guarantee of a set amount of funding until we receive confirmation of our own annual funding allocation.
“The real issue is that the sport horse sector is underfunded,” he added.
This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (28 June 2012)
