Eventing: Kiwi equestrians champing at the bit

Erik Duvander. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Erik Duvander used to compete against Mark Todd in the early years of the great eventer's riding career.

So New Zealand's high performance coach, who rode at the Olympics for Sweden, knows his way around the sport.

When he maintains the New Zealand squad heading for next week's World Games in Normandy is the best prepared he's seen, you listen.

Certainly the quality within the group of six is formidably good. New Zealand has won the team gold twice, at the inaugural Games in 1990 and again eight years later. Three individual golds have been won in that time.

Double Olympic champion Todd - part of both those winning teams - and former world No 1 Andrew Nicholson, preparing for his sixth World Games, remain at the top of the sport. Tim Price won the most recent of the four star events at Luhmuhlen in Germany aboard his talented horse Wesko in June; while Jock Paget is back after being cleared over any involvement in the positive doping test returned by Clifton Promise, which cost him the Burghley crown last September.

Now consider the current world rankings: Nicholson second, Price eighth, his wife, and individual representative, Jonelle Price 11th and Todd 16th.

"I've seen many teams in my career and I don't think I've been part of any team as well prepared as this group of riders," Duvander said.

"Anything can happen because we're working with horses, but the riders all have merit, have all done it before, apart from Tim, but he's coming off a four star win which gives him a lot of confidence.

"We are very fortunate to have a group of riders with that strength and the discipline they put into what they do."

The squad, including individual representatives Lucy Jackson and Jonelle Price, have had a series of training camps leading up to the games, this week at Rectory Farm near Cirencester, and has included days dedicated to the opening dressage phase - with leading judges on hand to assess the horses' work - and show jumping.

However, provided the horses perform well in those disciplines, the middle cross country leg is likely to be decisive.

The New Zealanders, who head to Normandy on Monday night, haven't seen the layout but some have walked the terrain. Todd has competed at Le Pin National Stud a few years ago, but on a different layout.

"We're all convinced it's going to be tough," Duvander said. "We know the course builder, Pierre Michelet, very well.

"He's a very clever builder and has a little bit of his own individual style. We're sure he'll come up with a couple of surprises, because that's his nature."

New Zealand has strong recent form. Nicholson, last year's world No 1 rider, has had wins at the British Open in Gatcombe Park - for the third time - and at the three star Barbury trials in the last six weeks.

Tim Price sits third on the FEI Classics ladder - based on performances at the six four star events held annually - while Todd's vast bank of knowledge tells him he's in good shape and aboard a talented 10-year-old Leonidas.

Which leaves Paget, who Duvander believes is in top shape, despite the near-year long layoff.

The squad have a vets' inspection on Wednesday with the first day of dressage starting next Thursday night (NZT).

World Games
• The World Equestrian Games start in Normandy on Tuesday.
• New Zealand will be represented in eventing, showjumping, endurance and para-dressage.
• The eventing team comprises Mark Todd and Leonidas II, Andrew Nicholson and Nereo, Tim Price and Wesko and Jock Paget and Clifton Promise. Lucy Jackson and Willy Do, and Jonelle Price on Classic Moet are riding as individuals.
• Nicholson won the individual bronze medal at the last Games, in 2010 when the New Zealand team also won the bronze.