Show jumper Jesse Linton may have been without his super star Popeye at the 2017 Horse of the Year show but he still had plenty more to look forward to.
The 23-year-old was in fine form this season with Kim Best's Popeye but after the grey gelding boarded a plane bound for Japan he had other fish to fry.
Having won the 7-year-old title at the Young Horse Show with Popeye, Linton this year chased the HOY equivalent.
The Napier rider competed in the show hunter classes with Wishing Crown (owned by the Moffett family), the 6-year-olds with Bambino NZPH and Eye Wonder (both owned by Glen and Jo Hicks) and the 5-year-olds aboard Tandia (owned by Rosie Commons).
However what was perhaps most exciting for Linton was the coaching roles he has at this year's HOY.