The organizers of the Red Hills International Horse Trials in Tallahassee, Fla., have decided this year’s CICs will be run in the traditional format, with show jumping following cross-country, after running their event with the modified format for the past two years.

Red Hills president Jane Barron cited financial concerns as the primary reason behind the decision for this year’s March 6-8 event. Entry fees and stabling cover only a third of the event’s budget, so a majority of the remainder is paid for with sponsorships. For the past two years, attendance at the awards ceremonies has been lackluster, offering little incentive for the sponsors to continue funding the event.

“Without being able to include sponsors that so heavily support us, they are finding no return for their generosity, frankly,” Barron said.

As an example, Barron spoke of the owner of Capital Eurocars, who offer a year’s lease on a luxury sport utility vehicle to the winner of the three-star. 

“In the years that he could present the SUV in front of the sponsor tent with a mounted awards ceremony, March and April were his best two months of his whole calendar year. For the last two years, since we have attempted to used the modified format [with cross-country after show jumping], his sales have been absolutely flat,” she explained. “After trying for two years he has said that he’s really sorry, but he cannot afford to give away the lease of a car.” 

Though the Fédération Equestre Internationale previously stated it would be mandatory for CICs to run in the modified format and granted a few exemptions, currently the modified format is simply “strongly recommended.” So far in the paperwork process, Barron hasn’t had any kickback from the FEI.

“I think 2015 is going to be the test year for Red Hills,” she said. “If we don’t have the support, if it isn’t that important to the [upper-level] riders that they have the revised format, then there probably isn’t a place for Red Hills on the calendar.”

She’s also found that most spectators prefer the traditional format and are more likely to stick around for the end of the competition when a mounted awards ceremony is held. Even with announcers trying to encourage spectator enthusiasm as the top 10 placings take to the cross-country course for the past two years, the excitement isn’t there.

“If you have 20,000 people sitting there, sort of walking away flat, you’ve really let a major contingent down. And that’s just what we’ve found; we’ve just let them down. So we’re going to try this this year, and if it works, great. Then if it doesn’t work, I guess the handwriting’s on the wall.” Barron said.