Of the hundreds of horses at this year's Horse of the Year there are a select few that have travelled all the way across the ditch for the big event.
Christchurch-born horse trainer and dealer Ross Smith, 54, is a household name for New Zealand equestrian sport and has been living in Brisbane for about five years training horses for the international market.
This year he has brought with him 22-year-old Hayley Morris who he said was an up and coming talent worth keeping an eye on.
"She's worked with me solid for five years so we've been very lucky. Hayley is the next one on the way up. She's got a very good horse and she's done a lot already; represented New Zealand at young rider level and jumped in the world cups in Australia," he said.
Mr Smith said the young rider turned up as a teenager, told him she wanted to be a professional rider and has never looked back.