Chosen rider in rush to find funds

Riders compete in mounted games at the annual Horse of the Year Show in Hastings. PHOTO/APN

Tautoro 17-year-old Danny Kopa has been selected as the northern representative for the New Zealand Mounted Games team to take on the Aussies this month.

The Okaihau College Year 13 student has less than three weeks to raise over $1000 to get him to the Australian Pairs championship in Wentworth, Victoria, from April 19-20 and a further singles event in May.

The New Zealand team will ride horses provided by Australians and Danny is excited at the prospect of the transtasman contest.

"I've been riding horses for three years and competing in mounted games events since I was 14. I know it's not rugby, but I wouldn't do anything else - I love this sport," he said.

Mounted games is a branch of equestrian sport in which fast games are played by people of a range of ages on ponies up to 15 hands (152cm) high. They require athletic ability, good riding skills, hand-to-eye co-ordination, determination, perseverance, a competitive spirit, an ability to work with other riders and a willingness to help one another.

There are many different games in the sport with quirky names like bang-a-balloon and litter lifters.

"I get funny looks from people when I tell them what I do, but the opportunity to represent your country is huge," Danny said.

Should you wish to donate to Danny's fundraising effort, his Kiwibank account number is 38 9011 0872913 00 (please use mountedgames as the reference).