New Zealand dressage has taken another step towards the London Olympics in the latest high performance squads being announced by Equestrian Sports New Zealand.
Dressage rider Louisa Hill is the newcomer to the 2012 squad after her sterling efforts in Australia including helping qualify a team slot for New Zealand at London. She has met the criteria for London but as yet is undecided when she will head to the UK or Europe to continue her campaign.
One who will be hoping to make the step from the 2014 squad to 2012 is dressage rider Vanessa Way (Taranaki) who with her horse KH Arvan just this week left for the United Kingdom where she will base with Carl Hester.
ESNZ high performance director Sarah Harris says it tough for rider to make the top squads.
“The high performance squad criteria remains deliberately hard for all disciplines so that we drive our programme out of performance and into high performance,” she says. “Announcing all squads together like this is an exciting new initiative that allows the standard in each discipline to be viewed as one.”
There are a number aiming for the 2014 World Championships in France, including riders from showjumping, endurance, dressage, eventing and para-dressage.
The 2012 New Zealand Dressage Squad includes:
- Louisa Hill - Bates Antonello
The 2014 New Zealand Dressage Squad includes:
- Vanessa Way - KH Arvan
Read the squad criteria here.
Photo © Franz Venhaus
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