WORLD CUP DEBUT: Dannevirke's Georgia Massie and Larinium LS will step up to the big time in Hastings today. PHOTO/CHRISTINE MCKAY
MOST will label Hawke's Bay showjumper Georgia Massie's move up to World Cup level as a big move but her mind was made up months ago.
Back in March after jumping Larinium LS to a top-five finish in the Norwood Gold Cup at the Horse of the Year Show in Hastings to be precise.
"He jumped so well there," Massie said.
"It was the icing on the cake to a brilliant season. I will see how things go tomorrow before I make any big plans for the rest of the season," 18-year-old Massie said as she pondered today's Country TV World Cup (NZ) Premier League at the Hawke's Bay A and P Show in Hastings.
Dannevirke's Massie will be the baby in the 21-strong field which will feature New Zealand's best showjumpers. Former winners Simon Wilson of Waipukurau, Dannevirke's Maurice Beatson and Mystery Creek's Katie Laurie are among the favourites again.
Massie knows jumping the jumps is only half the game.
"What goes on in your head is the biggest challenge with a class like this," she said. "I practice de-stressing myself before big classes."
Trained by her brother Logan Massie, Massie, said she was hugely grateful for the support of her family when it comes to chasing her equestrian dreams.
Five-time series winner Laurie has her stunning grey stallion Dunstan Casebrooke Lomond and Dunstan On The Point Eve entered.
Her preparation for the opening round has been meticulous and meant she travelled about 1450km back and forth between Gisborne and Mystery Creek last weekend to ensure Lomond had a good run in an arena similar to the Hawke's Bay grounds.
Eve had her lead-up at Foxton, a little earlier and Laurie is confident both will head into the class primed and ready.
Laurie, who won the series last year, is New Zealand's best-performed finisher at the World Cup final with her sixth equal in Sweden in 2011 aboard Dunstan Delphi.
Taupo's Helen McNaught-McFarlane and her quirky grey Carnutelabryere have been the combination to go head-to-head with Laurie over the past two seasons, and in the 2015-2016 season won the final but placed second in the series.
"The World Cup series is certainly our priority for the season," McNaught-McFarlane said.
"Roger Laplanche is a great course builder and while I am not expecting to push everyone too hard for the opening round, I am sure it will be strong enough."
Carnutelabryere has come back into work well for the new season.
"He is looking the best ever I think and has come out looking fantastic."
Beatson, who represented New Zealand in a World Cup final previously, has two on the card with Conyers and Schimmel Warrior, both of whom have plenty of mileage at top level.
Conyers was actually brought to New Zealand as a 4-year-old dressage horse, but his father Concorde's jumping lines proved too strong and he made the switch.
Wilson brings McMillans Midway Smooth Dude out for his first World Cup start.
"I am happy with him at the moment but you never know how things are going to go when you move up another level," Wilson said. "It is a big test that next step and will be a tough ask."
Also entered are Samantha Morrison (Tauranga) aboard Biarritz, husband and wife Brooke and Oliver Edgecombe (Waipukurau) on LT Holst Aunty Annette and Ultra Blue NZPH respectively, Lily Tootill (Auckland) and Ulysses NZPH, Rachel Malcolm (Cambridge) on Equador MVNZ, Daniel Blundell (Ocean Beach) on Lavello, Mathew Dickey (Oakura) on Quango, Tess Clark (Auckland) on Sinatra II, Sam Peters (Whangarei) on Zabambi and Lucy Fell (Opiki) on Tinapai.
The New Zealand league runs over six rounds, with the best four to count for each rider.
Following Hawke's Bay, the next two rounds will be held indoors, at Mystery Creek (November 4-6), followed by Feilding (December 2-3). Competition then moves back outdoors for Taupo (December 15-17) and Dannevirke (January 6-8) with the grand final at Waitemata (January 14-15).
The winner of the New Zealand league has the opportunity to represent the country at the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping 2015/2016 final which is being held in Omaha, Nebraska, in the United States, from March 29-April 1, 2017.