Lynton Horse Trials to conclude in 2019 after 41 years of eventing

Due to the increasing difficulty of staging the event, along with dipping entries, organisers Georgina and Neil Kennedy made the decision to make the 2019 trials a swansong.

"It's so much work, and we have very little local help and there's not many people who event in this town," Georgina said.

"After 41 years of Neil doing it and 31 years for me, we're done."

It marks the end of an era in Goulburn eventing, as the town prepares to farewell the trials which began in 1978 as a small local competition.

It is a sad occasion for the sport, but Neil remains a pragmatist about it all.

"I take the view that it's so much work putting it on and there's only two of us doing it, it just gets to the point where we can't get anyone to help," he said.

"It's all the preparation that is hard. That happens, that's life. It's sad because it's a very good course and a good venue, and it'll be lost to the sport."

Though it will be the last time the event is held, there will be no dip in quality, assured the Kennedys.

"The entries we have received are really good," Georgina said.

"[There are] South Australians, Victorians, a few Queenslanders [are coming].

"Stuart Tinney, Shane Rose, Megan Jones, we've got a fair few Olympians and near-Olympians coming."

The trials, which have grown into one of the most highly-regarded eventing competitions in Australia, often brings riders of the highest calibre from all over the country.

"We pride ourselves on attracting interstate riders," Neil said.

"They wouldn't travel here if it wasn't worth it. That's a bit of a feather in the cap that someone will drive for 14 hours [to take part].

"I think we've always been one of the top half dozen events in Australia."

This year will also see international riders take to the courses.

"We've also got a New Zealand girl and a bloke from Pakistan who's coming up from Melbourne," Georgina said.

"We're putting on a special class to help him with his qualification for the Olympics."

This year will see 245 riders competing at the trials. Despite the relatively small number of competitors, the Kennedys are confident that the public will turn out to support the event.

"I hope that we get a fair amount of people from town, we've put some great posters up," Georgina said.

"A lot of the general horse community knows as well."

Ahead of the 2019 trials, the Kennedys wanted to thank Alan Cardy, the owner of Lynton, and Ann Poidevin, for allowing the event to take place on their property for so many years.

The Lynton Horse Trials will take place this weekend, across October 5 and 6.

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