Northland horsewoman Vicki Wilson defends title in Kentucky

Vicki Wilson and Kentucky - the wild mustang that was trained and then brought home after 2017 Road to the Horse competition in America.

Training a wild mustang in two days was a massive challenge for experienced equestrian Vicki Wilson.

But now the Northland horsewoman will be tested to her limits when she trains two mustangs over three days at the glitzy American 15th Anniversary of The Road to the Horse competition.

After clinching the title last year at the show in Kentucky, and collecting the $142,278 winning cheque, Ms Wilson is now up against some tough competitors this year with all three fellow competitors having been previous winners of the event.

Before leaving her Hukerenui base for the three-day event, which starts in America today, she said was excited about challenging herself again.

"I definitely think there are bigger and better things to come this year," Ms Wilson said.
The competitors will get to see the horses today and choose the two they want. The riders will get three sessions with each of their horses and then have to complete a difficult obstacle course on them.

Last year Ms Wilson chose a colt, she later named Kentucky and had shipped home to New Zealand, who was not naturally bold or brave.

Her plan this year is slightly different.

"I won't be getting the same sort of horse. My first pick will be a horse that is out the front and looking around."

This time round she will have the support of her family in the crowd - including sisters Amanda and Kelly - and a small contingent of Kiwi supporters.

"Too know they are there and in my corner will be a great boost," she said.

Ms Wilson suffered a dislocated shoulder during the first phase of the event last year and in the off-season underwent surgery on the shoulder as well as her hip.

She will have the shoulder strapped when competing this year.

Her recovery took most of the winter and handling unbroken horses was limited to one.

In preparation for the event she has watched videos of previous competitions to see where she can improve.

The other three competitors, all male, come from a more Western riding background.

Ms Wilson is well known in showjumping circles in New Zealand, while creating a name for herself in the southern hemisphere through bareback and bridleless demonstrations and jumping displays.

Outside of the competition arena, she is one of the country's top horse trainers.

Her specialities lie with fixing problem horses, the domestication of wild horses and colt starting, having started hundreds of horses over the last 20 years.

Over the years she has developed a reputation for successfully rehabilitating sore and difficult horses, having learned that horses generally only show negative behaviour as a reaction to pain or fear, and aims to foster confidence, working to find solutions rather than punishing symptoms.