The FEI has asked the organisers of last autumn’s World Equestrian Games for clarification on why some successful teams have still not received prize-money won at the event, almost four months later.
A spokesman for the British Equestrian Federation confirmed that the eventers had yet to receive their prizes for team bronze and individual silver medals, but added that she had been assured that it was now on its way.
The British Reining Horse Association reported that its team, which was placed fifth in the inaugural reining competition at WEG, had already received its money. However, this is likely to be due to the fact that cash for this discipline was funded separately by German sponsor Classic S Ranch.
The World Equestrian Games offered more than £400,000 in prize-money for the seven disciplines, but a spokesman for the organising committee explained that, while it had been forced under Spanish law to meet certain deadlines for payments to contractors who supplied the event, sponsorship and government funding was only just starting to come in, and thus payment of prize-money had been delayed.
The spokesman denied that the organisers, comprising the Spanish local government, Secretariat of Sports and Spanish Equestrian Federation, were suffering the financial troubles that have beset previous WEG hosts.
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