Equestrian: Consistency wins Sydney trip

Sam Morrison, with Biarritz, will compete for New Zealand in Sydney next month. Photo / File

Tauranga show jumper Sam Morrison is one of four riders selected to represent New Zealand's young riders against their Australian counterparts in Sydney from October 3-5.

Consistent performances throughout the season qualified Morrison, 20, to compete in Sydney.

"The key is to have consistent results at the higher level," Morrison said. "I was told the reason why I got in the team was because of my success down in the South Island. I won a premier league class, that is jumping 1 metre 40 to 1 metre 60 in height, and I also won a few grand prix classes."

Morrison will go to Sydney in good form. She and her favourite horse Biarritz finished second at the Equissage Horse Grand Prix in Hastings a fortnight ago.

It will be her first time representing New Zealand. The former Bethlehem College student hopes it is the next step on creating a career path that one day will take her to the Olympics and the World Equestrian Games.

"It has always been one of my goals to represent New Zealand at show jumping, so it is very exciting. The young riders going to Sydney are the four top riders in New Zealand at the moment so that means I am competing at the top level now. It is along the path of being selected in other international squads for New Zealand. I want to get to the top and compete internationally and represent New Zealand more for sure."

Morrison rates Cambridge-based rider Katie Laurie as someone she would like to emulate.

"She has a really good feel with every horse she rides and manages to get a good result out of every horse. She is probably the best rider in New Zealand at the moment."

That special empathy between Morrison and her top horse Biarritz is a special factor in her success so far, although Biarritz will not be competing in Sydney.

"This is my third year and I have had him for just over two years," Morrison said. "I personally really love the horses and don't use them as machines. I have relationships with them and because Biarritz knows that I love him, he will help me out when I need it and visa versa.

"You need to have a good relationship with your horse because that is when they will try. You need to let them trust you. If they don't trust you, they will never go out of their way to help you out when you need it."