Second day done and dusted for Land Rover Horse of the Year

HOY event manager Dave Mee with Elizabeth Inman, event director of the Burghley Horse Trials, after she arrived at HB Showgrounds, Hastings. Photo / Warren Buckland

The second day of the Land Rover Horse of the Year ended with the arrival of equestrian royalty in the name of Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials event director Elizabeth Inman.

The annual global equestrian event in the UK attracts more than 166,000 people over three-days, with 80 horses competing.

Ms Inman, who was invited to attend HOY, has been in the country for the first time since last Tuesday and will stay until the end of the month.

Upon her arrival by helicopter, she said she was looking forward to seeing the show, which shares the same title sponsor; Land Rover.

"The whole of New Zealand is steeped in equestrianism so, to me, it is something really special to come down here. They have always done really well at Burghley Horse Trials so it is really great to come to your home country home territory."

She was awarded a British Equestrian Federation Medal of Honour in recognition of her dedication to the Event over the past 35 years.

"[This show] has a lot more horses and less people but we are all in the event business together, and we have the ups and the downs and good points and bad points, so I'm sure there will be massive similarities and I would like to think the two events with the same title sponsor can actually work with each other, that will be really good.

"The eventing phrase is probably what interests me most because that is what we do, it is the speciality discipline," she said.

"You've got lots of showjumping, dressage and everything so looking forward to seeing the cross-country course which is always interesting for an event organiser, with different designs of fences and all those elements, so it will be interesting to see how you do it over there.

"It is a big international community and everyone gets together so it is a sort of home from home but on a totally different hemisphere."

The Tomoana Hawke's Bay Showgrounds was abuzz with activity as hundreds of people again made their way to see the action and everything else associated with the event.

Horse of the Year Event manager Dave Mee said it had been another successful day yesterday, with more people attending and beautiful weather.

"I feel like the whole event is taking shape for a really good weekend."

"It is amazing that someone from an event of her calibre has come to New Zealand to enjoy our event and we are super excited about that.

He echoed Ms Inman's comments and said they were "excited about the stuff that we can do with them in the future as well and we are looking forward to it."