‘We’re devastated’: weather takes its toll as major event forced to cancel

Zara Tindall and Class Affair, who head to Bramham Horse Trials this week — Zara Tindall and Class Affair win at Chatsworth 2022.

(Image credit: trevor-meeks-photography.co.uk)

This year’s Chatsworth International Horse Trials has been cancelled as a result of heavy recent rain on site.

Organisers of the event, which was due to run from 17 to 19 May, said they are “devastated” to have to make the call, but that is “in line with the instruction of British Eventing (BE) and the FEI”.

Chatsworth is far from the first event to have had to cancel this season as a second wet spring in a row has wreaked havoc on the calendar. Solihull (1) and Moreton Morrell (1) were both abandoned, although the former was allowed to move to the dates vacated by the latter. The fixture due to be held at Brechin Castle in Scotland on 4 May was moved to Kirriemuir, and Breckenborough, near Thirsk, which was forced to abandon the fixture it was due to hold on 6 to 8 April was allocated new dates, 11 to 12 May.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

TOPICS

Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.

‘We’re devastated’: weather takes its toll as major event forced to cancel

The event was to include the return of the British leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup, as well as classes from novice to four-star and dressage and showjumping competition.

“We are devastated to announce that due to the last 12 hours of heavy rain on site, under instruction from the BE and FEI officials we have been forced to cancel the 2024 Chatsworth International Horse Trials,” a spokesman for the event said today (15 May).

“We are sorry for the disappointment and inconvenience this will cause. Our team has worked incredibly hard to organise the event, however the decision has been taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our athletes, visitors and horses, which is our number one priority.

“All ticket holders will be contacted to process a full refund. There is no need to contact us.”

You might also be interested in:

‘Thinking outside the box’: eventing acts fast to replace fixtures lost to the weather

Major horse trials cancelled for 2024: ‘Incredibly sad news’

‘The grandstands are up, the fences in place’: Badminton on track after washout spring