Excitement builds for Horse of Year

HORSING AROUND: Kevin (left) and Andrew Hansen were finalising preparations at Hawke's Bay Showgrounds for next week's Horse of the Year. PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND HBT140222-01

Horse of the Year 2014 is shaping up to be the best yet, despite a "disappointing" start, with the cancellation of Showjumping's Holy Grail due to adverse weather conditions.

Church Road Winery were to host tomorrow's event - where world champion show jumper Philippe Le Jeune would have made his HOY debut.

"It was a hard decision to make, the rain is meant to clear on Sunday, but these are award winning horses and we don't want them showjumping on slippery surfaces," Director Kevin Hansen said.

Competition will begin across 19 disciplines from Tuesday to Sunday - with more than 2600 horses and riders flocking to the region for one of the Southern Hemisphere's biggest sporting competitions.

"We are going into what I consider to be the best HOY we have ever run, everyone's excited - it's going to be crazily good with the best crowd, the best entertainment, Chinese and Australian teams and cross country - what more could you want?"

It will be a truly international affair with riders, judges, officials and spectators flying in from throughout the world.

Yesterday a huge group of volunteers worked to get Hawke's Bay Showgrounds in top shape before early arrivals today.

"It's an empty city at the moment, the set up is 98 per cent done thanks to a huge work force - the trade stalls are going in from today [Friday] all the marquees are up and the first horses arriving, so it's starting to look a bit more like a horse show."

Cyclone Lusi is forecast to bring high winds and rain to the region, but as long as they batten down the hatches marquees should withstand the blow.

"If they don't open the flaps up, they should be fully secure - I don't think it's going to be a problem for us - by the time Tuesday comes it's meant to be beautiful and that's what counts."

While tracks had been diligently watered in the lead up to HOY, this weekend's rain would work in their favour, adding much needed moisture.

"It's not going to do us any harm, as long as it clears up - it has been pretty dusty down there."

Sir Mark Todd will captain New Zealand in the Country TV Tri Nations at Classic Hits Saturday Night Variety Show against China and Australia; they also go head-to-head with Australia during the Mitavite Trans Tasman, at Hawke's Bay Today's Friday Night Extravaganza.

For the first time ever, a cross country component has been moved to Hawke's Bay Showgrounds; the entire event will halt next Saturday afternoon as a record field of competitors take on a course which winds its way around the venue.

It has been declared People's Day and Mr Hansen was hopeful Hawke's Bay residents would turn out in their droves to watch a world-class competition.

March 23's JB Olympic Cup will reveal New Zealand showjumper of the year.

Back to defend their titles are veteran Maurice Beatson, four-time winner Katie McVean and Samantha McIntosh.