New Zealand eventers have another chance to practice team performance with the FEI Nations Cup at the Barefoot Retreats Houghton International Horse Trials in the UK this week.

Bundy Philpott aboard Henton First Lady, Jesse Campbell with Cooley Lafitte, Bruce Haskell on Ex Cavalier’s Law, and Tim Price with Spartaco or Vitali will take on teams from Great Britain, Italy, Sweden and the United States in the CCIO4*-S at the event, with Jesse aboard Gambesie, Tim with Spartaco or Vitali, James Avery on One of a Kind and Hollie Swain with Solo, starting as individuals in the 95-strong class. This is the only British-hosted eventing Nations Cup competition.

Houghton Hall will be Bundy and 11-year-old Henton First Lady’s debut international start in the UK. The New Zealand-bred Hanoverian was previously ridden by Christen Land, with Bundy, who was the reserve at the Tokyo Olympic Games, taking the ride in 2020. Together they won the CCI3*-L at Puhinui in 2020.

Jesse has been carefully bringing 10-year-old Cooley Lafitte through the grades since their first international start together in mid-2019. This will be their first 4* start.

It is a similar story for Bruce and Ex Cavalier’s Law who are on debut at 4* level and had their first international together in 2020.

Tim will start either Spartaco or Vitali in the team, with the other running as an individual. Eleven-year-old Spartaco is no stranger to 4* level, and was third as his last start, the CCI4*-L at Pratoni del Vivaro in November. Vitali was Tim’s horse at the Tokyo Olympic Games, and previously won a CCI4*-L at Strzegom in 2021. They were top six in the CCI4*-S at Luhmuhlen last year.

There is plenty of other action at the event, with eight Kiwis competing in the CCI3*-L class, which has attracted 96 entries, and a further three in the 107-strong CCI2*-L class.  Enjoy the photos above of from the CCI3*-L trot up. 

The dressage gets underway on Thursday evening and runs over two days. Saturday incorporates the cross country test for the lower grades and showjumping for the 4*, followed on Sunday with the 4* cross country and the lower grades showjumping.

CLICK HERE FOR STARTLISTS & RESULTS

THE HORSE DETAILS:
Henton First Lady – owned by Bundy and Bryan Philpott
Cooley Lafitte – owned by Jay Jaffar
Gambesie – owned by Sarah Moffat
Ex Cavalier’s Law – owned by Tammy Lake and Bruce Haskell
Spartaco – owned by Tim Price
Vitali – owned by Alexander and Joseph Giannamore and Tim Price
One of a Kind – owned by Hazel and Chloe Livesey and James Avery
Solo – owned by John Bodenham
Harbour Town – owned by Amanda Vosper and Sue Benson
Dassett Showman – owned by Gillian Greenlees and Lucy Jackson
Tomochichi – owned by The Big Bees Syndicate
Jerry – owned by Juliet Wood and Bundy Philpott
Gino Gingerino – owned by Jeremy Young
MBF Connection – owned by Hazel Livesey
Jarillo – owned by Lucy Allison, James and Rachel Good, and Tim and Jonelle Price
Viscount Viktor – owned by Barbara Cooper, Glynn Norcutt and Ginny Rusher
Lichtenstein – owned by David and Karie Thomson
Lucky Jo Jo – owned by Lucky Jo Jo Syndicate and Nick Brooks
Karakter W – owned by Little Red Rocket Syndicate and Lucy Jackson

By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
Photos by Libby Law/ESNZ