Equestrian contests return to NSW

Competitive equestrian events will return to New South Wales next month for the first time since the eradication of equine influenza.

The Return of the Horse series will be the country's biggest equestrian event since the Sydney Olympics.

Olympian Vicki Roycroft says it is hoped the event will help the Australian equestrian team prepare for the Beijing Olympics but she says the flu outbreak has hurt the team's chances of winning a medal.

"Don't give up on us either," she said.

"I'm one of these people who seem to thrive a bit on adversity and I know most of my team mates are bit like that too.

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I just hope that we can get through this."

The State Government has provided $300,000 to help the equestrian industry recover.