Due to the economic climate, the Horse Park of New Jersey in Upper Freehold Township has canceled the Garden State Combined Driving Event and may cut other popular shows later this year.

The driving event, which had been scheduled to take place on May 29-30, has been held at the Horse Park since 1992, but will not take place this year in order to reduce nonessential spending.

Organizer Heather Walker said the decision is all about meeting expenses.

"Garden State must be self-supporting, as it has been for as long as I have been associated with the event," Walker said. "However, sponsorships are down. Longtime loyal, generous supporters are giving half of their customary donations."

Walker said organizers polled a good number of drivers who were expected to compete at the event and determined that entries would have been significantly reduced from prior years.

"So we have no chance of breaking even," she said.

Millstone Township resident Maggie Romano, who serves as president of the New Jersey Horse Council and the New Jersey Equine Advisory Board, said it is unfortunate that such a terrific event had to be canceled.

"It is probably the first of many more," she said. "We can only hope that the situation improves and we can enjoy many more high-level events at the Horse Park again."

Another major event held at the Horse Park in May, the Jersey Fresh CCI***/CCI**, is also in serious financial trouble and faces the chopping block, as are other horse shows in the area, according to the Horse Park of New Jersey.

Upper Freehold Township resident Elaine McMinn said it a very sad state of affairs, but with the economy declining and some people barely able to feed and care for their horses, she said she is not totally surprised about what is occurring.

"Being the first organizer at the infant stage of this event, it saddens me to see the event canceled," McMinn said. "When we started, it was a one-day event that was fun for all."

The Garden State Combined Driving Event offered American Driving Societyapproved preliminary and training classes until 2002, when the event moved up a level and introduced an advanced division recognized by the U.S. Equestrian Federation.

The following year, the International Equestrian Federation sanctioned the driving event.

Since 2007, the event has offered classes for all four levels of driving. The event has been a USEF selection trial since 2003, and hosted the USEF National Pairs Championship in 2005.

McMinn suggested that show management rethink scheduling for 2010 and return the driving event to its original purpose of being a small spring start-up event where more people can compete and enjoy showing.

"It grew too large and it is difficult to get people to volunteer their time for three days," she said, adding that she would also like to see the Horse Park lower its fees, even temporarily, so that horse enthusiasts can enjoy smaller shows there.

"The park is already established, and it remains empty most of the time," she said. "I would also like to see it open to everyone every day as the Horse Park in Virginia is."

Event organizers will review the financial situation later this year and decide whether it is feasible to conduct a combined driving event in 2010.

Horse Park President Nancy Hutcheson said canceling the event is unfortunate for everyone involved.

"We have enjoyed getting to know the driving community, and so many people have told me how much they like the show," Hutcheson said.

She said the Garden State Combined Driving Event was the only show of this level in New Jersey. She said the Horse Park will return all donations and entries for the event received to date.