Equestrian: Competition heats up for riders vying for Paris Olympics spots

The competition is heating up for New Zealand equestrians all vying for a spot on the Olympic team heading to Paris in July.  

A team of six will be announced in June - three for eventing, plus a reserve, and individual riders for show jumping and dressage.  

Most of the Olympic hopefuls are competing overseas where there's larger events to improve their chances of being selected.  

But, at this year's Horse of the Year Show in Hawke's Bay, Maddy Seivwright is fine tuning her moves ahead of the Eventer of the Year - which begins on Friday and is a chance to impress Olympic selectors. 

Seivwright told Newshub she's feeling hopeful.  

"I'm excited," she said. "I think I have a lot to prove performance-wise and I have to make sure I'm in form." 

It's the only Olympic sport that involves animals and where men and woman compete on equal terms. Eventing is the triathlon of the horse world as riders have to excel at dressage, show jumping and cross country.  

"It adds an extra element - definitely - having to have them well-trained in all three phases," Seivwright said 

And well-sponsored, which is why many top riders are based overseas. Bronze-medalist Jock Paget is the high-performance manager for Equestrian Sports New Zealand and said the sport takes huge commitment and dedication, as well as funding. 

"To take a horse from New Zealand to Europe competing and come back here, you're talking $100,000 minimum - that's just to get there and back," he said. 

Aiming for a spot on the team is dressage rider Melissa Galloway and show jumpers Phillip Steiner, Sharn Wordley and Brooke Edgecumbe, among others. Eventing power-couple Tim and Jonelle Price are also hoping to be selected, they're based in the UK and are the former world number 1 and 2.  

"Us, as a couple, hopefully [will be] of the three or four [who] will go to the games," said Tim. 

"I hope to have four horses in the framework, it's early season for us here in the UK. At this stage it's just about getting the horses out and hoping the winter prep pays off and we can post some results," Jonelle said. 

Paget said the full team will be announced in June and he's excited about what's in store for the 2024 Olympic Games - as some top Kiwi riders will be there. 

The competition is heating up for New Zealand equestrians all vying for a spot on the Olympic team heading to Paris in July.  

A team of six will be announced in June - three for eventing, plus a reserve, and individual riders for show jumping and dressage.  

Most of the Olympic hopefuls are competing overseas where there's larger events to improve their chances of being selected.  

But, at this year's Horse of the Year Show in Hawke's Bay, Maddy Seivwright is fine tuning her moves ahead of the Eventer of the Year - which begins on Friday and is a chance to impress Olympic selectors. 

Seivwright told Newshub she's feeling hopeful.  

"I'm excited," she said. "I think I have a lot to prove performance-wise and I have to make sure I'm in form." 

It's the only Olympic sport that involves animals and where men and woman compete on equal terms. Eventing is the triathlon of the horse world as riders have to excel at dressage, show jumping and cross country.  

"It adds an extra element - definitely - having to have them well-trained in all three phases," Seivwright said 

And well-sponsored, which is why many top riders are based overseas. Bronze-medalist Jock Paget is the high-performance manager for Equestrian Sports New Zealand and said the sport takes huge commitment and dedication, as well as funding. 

"To take a horse from New Zealand to Europe competing and come back here, you're talking $100,000 minimum - that's just to get there and back," he said. 

Aiming for a spot on the team is dressage rider Melissa Galloway and show jumpers Phillip Steiner, Sharn Wordley and Brooke Edgecumbe, among others. Eventing power-couple Tim and Jonelle Price are also hoping to be selected, they're based in the UK and are the former world number 1 and 2.  

"Us, as a couple, hopefully [will be] of the three or four [who] will go to the games," said Tim. 

"I hope to have four horses in the framework, it's early season for us here in the UK. At this stage it's just about getting the horses out and hoping the winter prep pays off and we can post some results," Jonelle said. 

Paget said the full team will be announced in June and he's excited about what's in store for the 2024 Olympic Games - as some top Kiwi riders will be there. 

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