Georgia set to ride into history books

Nga Tawa student Georgia Smith is expected to become the youngest person to compete at the World Equestrian Games in France later this year. Photo/Stuart Munro

Georgia Smith is making World Equestrian Games history twice - and she's yet to even compete in the event.

The 17-year-old from Mangaweka has been named in the New Zealand endurance team to compete in the event in Normandy, France, in August.

When she does it is believed she will be the youngest to have competed at the games.

Meanwhile, her mother, Andrea, is in the team too, and the pair will become the first mother-and-daughter combination at the games.

The Year 12 Nga Tawa student grew up around horses and has been into the sport since she got her first pony when she was 2.

Georgia, who has already competed in Australia, Abu Dhabi and South Africa, said the selection wasn't too much of a surprise, as she had been on the fringes. But she was proud nonetheless, and said it was exciting to be competing alongside her mother.

"I guess it's just good to have a training buddy, and our horses go pretty well together." She didn't have a specific goal but said she wanted to do her best and contribute well to the team.

Her mother has been labelled as one to watch in the endurance event, which takes all day and covers about 160km with the best three scores at the end of the event counting towards the team tally.

Nga Tawa stables manger Sandy Fryatt said the school was proud of Georgia's selection and she was a talented rider.

"It's a huge achievement and it's nice to see her and her mother are together," she said.

But before the pair can even think about competing they need to raise $60,000 each to get their horses to Europe.

People can donate to the pair's trip by visiting http://www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/SmithFamily