Record rainfall has forced 27 NSW agricultural shows, including eight in the Central West, to be cancelled or cut back this year.

A lot of outdoor events at this year’s Canowindra Show had to be cancelled due to the wet conditions.

The Trunkey Creek show was the latest to be hit and did not go ahead on Saturday after being cancelled for only the second time in 34 years.

The show circuit moves to Carcoar on October 29 and will be one of the final chances for horse owners to qualify for equestrian events at the Sydney Royal.

With many regional roads closed due to flooding, Forbes postponed horse events until October 22. 

Molong also postponed horse events, while Grenfell, Narromine, Manildra, Canowindra and Neville shows cancelled theirs.

David Peters, president of the Agricultural Societies council of NSW, said it had been heartbreaking and costly, particularly for smaller communities.

“There has been some cancellation of whole shows due to flooding and in a lot of cases the ring classes, the horses, have had to be cancelled.

“The annual man hours needed to get a reasonably-sized show on the go is 10,000 hours. It’s a huge commitment from the committee. 

“They get very disheartened after it. Sometimes they think why do we bother doing it. I hope that’s not the case.”

He said shows also were a catch-up day for the local community – often the only time all year.

“It’s been going for about six weeks,” he said. “There’s no disaster relief funding for shows.”

Mr Peters said he would be talking to the State Government to see if any funding could be allocated.

He said cancellation cost small shows about $4000 and medium shows up to $30,000.

“A lot of them have already booked entertainment that they have to pay for.”

And he said horse competitors who needed to score at local shows to qualify for the Sydney Royal show.