Eventing season suffers first cancellation
Moreton Horse Trials in Dorset, which was due to run on 1-2 March, has been forced to cancel due to the weather.
The grass-roots event — which runs classes from BE80T to novice —admitted defeat after the heavy rain prevented work taking place on the cross-country course.
A statement on the British Eventing (BE) said: “Due to the prolonged wet weather the organiser of Moreton Horse Trials has unfortunately been unable to progress both preparation and build of the cross country course.
“We therefore regretfully announce that the event has been cancelled.”
With more rain forecast on already saturated ground there is a growing concern that other events might also suffer.
Chairman of BE Mike Etherington-Smith told H&H earlier this week: “For sure the weather is creating some challenges in terms of event preparation.
“As always everyone is doing their best to get ready for the start of the season”.
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In 2012 after a wet spring and summer there were many high profile losses to the event calendar including Badminton and Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe.
To find out more about the misery caused by the persistent rain, don’t miss this week’s Horse & Hound — out today (Thursday 6 February)
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Sophia Heath joined Horse & Hound in July 2013 having previously worked for the Daily Telegraph's Olympics website, CNN International and Omnisport. A Durham graduate with a Masters in journalism from City University, Sophia has evented, showjumped and hunted. Sophia left Horse & Hound in early 2015 to join an international boating website.