The Olympic and Paralympic sports are generously supported by lottery funding via UK Sport but the non-Olympic sports of driving, endurance, reining and vaulting, although supported where possible, do not receive direct funding for the event from the World Class Programme.
All the non-Olympic disciplines have been working continuously hard to fundraise for the Games, alongside central fundraising activities, which include an online auction, where new lots are added each month and Team GBR merchandise – ranging from clothing to a Team GBR silver bracelet, generous donations are made to the teams for all items sold.
Although the non-Olympic disciplines have been working extremely hard to fundraise, the costs to make the journey to the World Equestrian Games are extremely high, for both riders and their horses. In the case of Driving, their costs are significantly higher, with one driver/rider requiring four horses and two carriages. We are therefore sorry to announce that due to the escalated costs for their sport, Driving will not be competed for at the Games this year.
For more details about the sport of Horse Driving Trials visit the British Horse Driving Trials Association website.