OXFORDSHIRE’S largest sporting event could have to cut back after its title sponsor pulled out.

The Blenheim Horse Trials attract 60,000 people every year, but investment company Fidelity has decided not to be its title sponsor anymore.

This means the event at Blenheim Palace now has to find another sponsor or face “trimming the sails” for next year’s event.

Director Mandy Hervieu said: “Fidelity has been our title sponsor for four years, but it wants to try something new.

“All our sponsors help us put on as good an event as we can, but this does mean we might have to trim the sails a bit next year.

“We attract a much wider audience than people who are just interested in horses and it is a good event for the family. We get a lot of people from Europe and further afield.”

The horse trials – which takesplace over four days – was started in 1990.

It is rated a three-star event by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports – the second highest level of eventing. It attracts some of the world’s best riders.

Last year’s winner was William Fox Pitt. He won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics in team eventing.

Mike Etherington-Smith, chief executive of British Eventing, said: “Blenheim International Horse Trials is one of the most prestigious events in the horse trials calendar.

“The venue is fantastic, it attracts many of the world’s leading riders each year, and has proven itself to be a very attractive commercial proposition for sponsors in terms of value for money and return on investment.

“The organisation is excellent and those involved are very flexible in their approach to sponsors in that packages are tailored to suit commercial aims and ambitions.

“We are confident that in future, the opportunity for companies to support a great event at a terrific venue is one that will be taken up.”

John Hoy, chief executive of Blenheim Palace, said: “It is always disappointing to lose a major sponsor, but Fidelity have been an excellent partner to the event for the last three years; we all wish them well.

“There are many other supporting sponsors to the event and we thank them for their ongoing support. We will continue to work closely with British Eventing regarding the planning for the 2014 Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials and we look forward to another very successful event next September.”

Fidelity did not comment.

Last month we reported that the Oxford Literary Festival, sponsored by the Oxford Times, had lost one of its main sponsors – The Sunday Times, but organisers promise it will be back next year, as big as ever.