British team to crowdfund trip to Worlds
With the huge cost of transporting horses and athletes stateside for WEG, disciplines are weighing up the options
BRITAIN’S World Equestrian Games (WEG) hopefuls are considering whether flying horses and riders to the US is going to be financially viable.
The games take place at Tryon International Equestrian Center from 11 to 23 September.
The British eventing, dressage, showjumping and para dressage squads will receive financial support for flights from the British Equestrian Federation (BEF).
But the BEF does not have funding for disciplines not included in Olympic or Paralympic programmes.
“The BEF’s World
Class programme supports athletes across its squads and championship teams within the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines, at a European, World or Olympic Games,” a BEF spokesman told H&H. “This is possible through funding from UK Sport via National Lottery and Exchequer funds.
“For WEG, the BEF is pleased to have extra support from the British Equestrian Federation Fund. This comes from funds raised specifically to support Olympic and Paralympic teams, to help support associated costs.
“Unfortunately, the equestrian World Class programme is not able to financially support the non-Olympic disciplines at a WEG, but they will receive on the ground support during the championships and we will very much be competing as one team.”
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
WITH the cost of one horse’s return flight reaching tens of thousands of pounds, Brits hoping to take part in reining, vaulting, driving and endurance are looking at how they can get to Tryon.
Once horses have landed at one
of four designated airports, the WEG organising committee will pick up the bill for transporting them to Tryon. This includes paying for quarantine as well as import and export charges.
British Carriagedriving chairman Chris Smith told H&H it will not send a team as the costs are “prohibitive”, but it is possible an individual may be sent.
Britain’s vaulters are holding fundraisers and have launched a crowdfunding page to pay for the flights for a horse and the squad.
One British pair has applied to compete on a horse borrowed from Canada; one individual hopeful is also on the team and another is based in Canada.
“We probably have the best team British Equestrian Vaulting (BEV) has ever seen,” BEV director Julie Newell told H&H.
“These young people are extremely fit athletes and working very hard. It would be terrible if they couldn’t go.”
Endurance GB hopes to send a team of US-based Brits, with the possibility of flying some horses from the UK. More details are yet to be announced.
Britain’s reining squad is looking at a range of options.
“British Reining (BR) does not receive any financial support from the BEF or anywhere else, so it is proving to be a very difficult situation as the cost of flying four or five horses is prohibitive,” said BR chairman Francesca Sternberg. “Our riders are trying to source suitable horses in the US and I am hopeful that this may enable our team to compete.”
She said the qualification event is in May and BR will then have a clearer idea as to whether it will send a team or individuals.
BR has also launched its para supporter membership to raise funds to field a team for the WEQx Games — a showcase event running alongside WEG.