Six Kiwi riders with eight horses have been accepted into the starting field for the Badminton Horse Trials next month.
Among the starters are New Zealand 2008 Olympic team combinations Joe Meyer and Snip, and Caroline Powell and Lenamore. Joining them is Andrew Nicholson with Armada, Avebury and Nereo, and Meyer is also accepted with Clifton Lush.
Bruce Haskell and Kiwi Smog, Tim Price and Vortex, and Annabel Wigley and Black Drum make up the rest of the Kiwi contingent so far.
As there are more riders entering to compete than can be accommodated, 85 horses have been accepted and the rest are on a waiting list. Because of double entries and riders who have entered three or four horses, there are more than 85 horses on the initial list but there will be a maximum of 85 runners.
When there is a withdrawal from the accepted list of entries, the next horse on the waiting list will make the field for the event, from April 30 to May 3.
The Badminton ballot is based on the number of FEI points a horse has won at three and four-star level over the past two years.
Among the Kiwi riders on the waiting list are Dan Jocelyn and Special Attorney (6th - 59 points); Neil Spratt and Hugo's There III (8th, 58) and Upleadon (14th, 46); Caroline Powell and Mac Macdonald (18th, 41); Mark Todd and Grass Valley (29th, 28); Joe Meyer and Sanskrit (31st, 27); Craig Nicolai and Just Ironic (36th, 20); and Dan Jocelyn and Special Advocate (17th, 38).
Selectors are likely to be watching Badminton closely, with an eye to the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky later in the year.
Last year the event was won by Oliver Townend and Flint Curtis. Of the Kiwi starters, Powell and Lenamore finished ninth, Meyer and Snip were 12th, Price and Vortex were 20th, Nicholson and Armada were 23rd, Meyer's Black Andy finished 42nd, and Jocelyn and Special Attorney were 49th.
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