Carys McCrory and her 15 year old Thoroughbred Nemesis, who won the CCI4*-S at the Treadlite NZ Taupō Horse Trials in September. Fiber Fresh NEC Taupō. Copyright photo Take the Moment.
The second spring horse trials at the Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre this coming weekend will have the challenge of a new cross-country course for the top two classes, which are being run under FEI (international) rules. Stuart Buntine, a British-based Australian who is a highly regarded course designer, offered his services after seeing the venue last year.
He was one of the presenters at the FEI Regional Seminar, which was run at the Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre in conjunction with the November horse trials last year. His special interest is safety, and with the help of a Swedish engineer, he has invented quick-release mechanisms for cross-country fences to lower the risk of horses falling.
Stuart started his eventing career in Australia, but after taking his horse to England and completing the Badminton Horse Trials in 1993, he became involved in the organisation of horse trials. He ran the 1996 Melbourne Three-day Event, which was a trial run for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, with four British horses brought out to test the quarantine arrangements.
In 2003, he set up BEDE Events in England, which organises a number of high-profile three-day events throughout Britain. He is an FEI-listed course designer and technical delegate, and is participating in another FEI Regional Seminar in Sydney, which is how he became available to design the cross-country course here.
There are ten of the country’s top horses entered in the CCI4* at the Treadlite NZ-sponsored event this weekend, and fourteen in the CCI3*. The dressage and showjumping take place on Saturday, and the cross-country on Sunday.
The current New Zealand Three-day Event champions, Carys McCrory and Nemesis, who won the first spring trials here in September, will be trying to do so again, but second-placed Charlotte Penny and Carousal will be hoping to turn the tables this time. Donna Edwards-Smith has three rides in the class and has a formidable track record, so she could well be the one to beat.
With six levels of competition being catered for, 193 entries from throughout the North Island will descend on Taupō, hoping for fine weather. Rain or shine, the pumice soil provides a surface that can handle the conditions. Entry is free, and food and hot drinks are available on site.
This is the last top-level event before the Three-day Event on 12th-14th December, so riders want a good outing.