Future of Burgham Horse Festival looks secure
The future of a fledgling showjumping and dressage show in Northumberland has been secured after Burgham Horse Trials stepped in to run the event.
The first Burgham Horse Festival was held in June this year, with Ellen Whitaker winning the showcase class — the Burgham Classic Grand Prix.
But spectator numbers were a third down on what was expected and the show made a £100,000 loss.
Northumberland County Council financed the event and with cuts looming the future of the show looked bleak.
But news was released yesterday (1 November), revealing that Burgham Horse Trials Limited had stepped in to prop up the event.
Councillor Tom Brechany said: “The equestrian industry in Northumberland is worth £23million each year.
“Our new partner has strong ambitions to develop the event to a very high standard in future years.”
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Burgham Horse Trials Limited will take on all future financial risks of the horse show.
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A self-confessed newshound, farmer’s daughter and journalist of many years' experience, Charlotte worked on regional papers before joining H&H in 2007. A regular rider, she visited Ireland in 2010 to investigate the fate of Irish horses through the recession, to much acclaim, and reported from the FEI General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro in 2011. She left Horse & Hound in March 2013.