DISAPPOINTED Wiltshire rider Laura Collett admits safety had to come first after this Badminton Horse Trials were cancelled.

Organisers called off this year's Mitsubishi Motors-backed event after they accepted there was "no chance" of the ground drying out in time.

The most prestigious four-star competition in world eventing was due to start on Friday with two days of dressage, followed by cross-country on Sunday and Monday's showjumping finale.

But the recent days of rainfall had left much of the Badminton ground in a waterlogged state, forcing the hand of the Trials organisers.

London 2012 hopeful Collett, who was eighth last year on her Badminton debut on Rayef and is based on the Membury Estate near Marlborough, told the Wiltshire Gazette & Herald: "I’m really gutted.

"It’s the world’s biggest event and it must be a real shame for the organisers.

"But at the end of the day, safety has to come first – that’s the most important thing.

"I’m gutted for all the grooms and everyone that’s helped get ready for Badminton.

"We’re going to have to find somewhere else to go next now – that doesn’t necessarily mean as soon as possible because it has to be the right event.''

Highworth-based Australian Paul Tapner, who had entered Inonothing, the horse he won Badminton on in 2010, added: “It’s very disappointing from our perspective because I had my top horse (Inonothing) going there who has made a fairly amazing return to form after injury.

“He needed the run (at Badminton) to help him qualify for the London Olympics so it’s a whammy for his career.

“It’s a possibility for him to still get there but there’s 80 others who are trying to do the same.”

The call-off comes as a setback for the British selectors three months before London 2012, although most of the top riders were not entered at Badminton on their potential Olympic horses.

Britain will send a team of five to London, with Fox-Pitt, Mary King, Piggy French and Nicola Wilson seemingly having nailed down four of those places.

The fifth spot, though, remains wide open, and attention will now switch to Chatsworth Horse Trials in Derbyshire from May 11-13, where several possible Olympic combinations are due to compete.

Wiltshire's Barbury International Trials at the end of June will also offer the chance to see many of the world's top riders in their final event before the London Olympics.

Collett, who had Rayef and Noble Bestman entered for Badminton, added: "I don’t really think it makes Barbury any more important because Badminton is always going to be the biggest event.

MORE RIDER REACTION TO THE CANCELLATION OF BADMINTON AT GAZETTEANDHERALD.CO.UK AND WILTSHIRETIMES.CO.UK AND IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES