New Zealand eventing judge Nicoli Fife has been invited to be a ground jury member at the prestigious four-star Badminton Horse Trials in Britain in April.
It is the first time a New Zealander has been invited to judge at the event.
Badminton holds a unique place on the eventing calendar and is widely recognised as the world's premier three-day event.
Cross-country day at Badminton boasts on average 100,000 spectators and ranks second only to motorsport's Indianapolis 500 as the largest spectator event in the world.
The invite to judge at Badminton follows on from Fife's involvement last year at the four-star Rolex Kentucky three-day event in the USA.
"This is one of the most significant invitations ever received for a New Zealand eventing official and underlines the international regard in which Nicoli is held," president of Equestrian Sports NZ Jennifer Millar said.
"Badminton is the most important annual event in our sport and to be a part of the ground jury is very special."
Fife, of Putaruru, formed part of the New Zealand eventing team which competed at the 1978 World Championships in Kentucky alongside Mark Todd. The gutsy effort by that team is widely acknowledged to have kick-started the sport of eventing in New Zealand and paved the way for the many New Zealand Olympic successes that came in later years.
Fife also campaigned in England and Europe during the late 1970s and early 80s, before returning to focus her efforts on the Charlton Stud in South Waikato, founded by her parents.
There will be at least seven New Zealand combinations competing at April's Badminton Horse Trials with all trying to prove themselves for world championship selection - the quadrennial World Equestrian Games will be held in Kentucky in September/October 2010.
Joining Fife on the ground jury is president Nick Burton, a British Team rider who is now involved in dressage training and judging, and Christoph Hess, who has judged at Badminton several times.
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