The organisers of Osborne House Horse Trials say they are “devastated” to announce the event planned for 23 to 24 July has been cancelled owing to a lack of entries.
Bede Events says there have not been enough entries to make the Isle of Wight event viable.
“We love the island so much and have worked really hard to deliver the event again this year, with many changes and developments planned, however we now find ourselves in a position where there are not enough entries for the competition,” Bede said in a statement.
“We don’t feel that we can continue with the event if we do not have enough competitors to provide good sport for the two days.
“This was a hugely difficult decision to take and we are so upset after such fantastic support from English Heritage and the island community. The whole team has been working really hard to ensure that this year’s event built on the success of last year’s.”
The Osborne House competition ran for the first time last year as the first affiliated horse trials to be run on the island. The aim was to showcase the sport to a new audience, and while it was supported by British Eventing, it was not fully affiliated as the sport was run in a different format.
Bede had explained that the competition at Osborne is “much shorter and faster-paced” than traditional horse trials. Competitors were to ride a shorter dressage test and slightly shorter showjumping course, with chances to choose alternative jumps and routes. The cross-country was to run in reverse order with leaders going last.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
At last year’s event, entries were lower than expected.
Bede said in its statement: “We can’t thank the Isle of Wight community enough for really embracing the event and we’re very sad that we’re now unable to bring the sport back to Osborne this year. Unfortunately, it is not possible to continue if we do not have a field of competitors.
“Our heartfelt apologies go out to everyone who has bought tickets and all the media channels and strategic partners who have supported us in the past few months. Everyone across the sport is going to work hard to encourage riders back to Osborne Horse Trials for 2020.”
Anyone who had booked tickets will be refunded “within the next couple of weeks”. For more information on refunds, email tickets@bedeltd.co.uk
For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.
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
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.
