New Zealand have eight entries in the field for the Badminton horse trials in England next week - but one name missing from the list could spell the end of an Olympic ambition for London.
Former world and Olympic champion Blyth Tait has not accrued enough points to get a
spot in the field.
Tait decided last year to make a bid to return to the international elite, following in the footsteps of longtime teammate Mark Todd who at 55 won Badminton for the fourth time last year.
However, Tait, 50, has found it difficult getting back to his old lofty standards.
He needed a certain number of FEI ranking points to make the field. When it comes to a high profile event such as Badminton, where there are far more riders than places in the field, the higher the points the better the chances of getting a start.
