Equestrian: Vet check dashes NZ team hopes

New Zealand's eventers were gutted on Tuesday when their three-day event team missed out on an Olympic Games medal with two horses lame.

Defending Olympic champion Blyth Tait desperately tried to get Ready Teddy fit after the horse went lame this morning, but his world champion failed the final veterinary inspection before this afternoon's showjumping.

Earlier, New Zealand had decided not to present Paul O'Brien's horse Enzed after it was stiff from the arduous endurance test yesterday.

That meant just the horses of Mark Todd and Vaughn Jefferis were passed fit - but three scores are needed to post a team result.

New Zealand had been lying in the bronze medal position after the dressage and cross country phases, and had been clinging to distant hopes of pushing for a gold or silver going into the showjumping.

Ready Teddy went lame with a bruised hoof this morning. Efforts by team veterinarian Wallie Niederer to get him fit in time for the showjumping failed.

Soon after the decision, Tait was heading out of the stables to work his individual mount, Welton Envoy.

He said he had been confident Ready Teddy would have been well enough to showjump on the sand arena.

He said the second vet who checked the horse considered the problem was minor, and had suggested Tait re-present him to the first vet.

But that vet had refused to pass him.

Team chef d'equipe Arthur Grenside said a decision would be made later whether Todd would showjump Diamond Hall Red or Jefferis would finish the contest with Bounce.

Australia remain in line to pick up their third consecutive team's gold medal, after all four of their horses passed the veterinary inspection.

Britain, second overnight, also got three horses cleared for the showjumping and are well-placed to put immense pressure on the hosts, who have just a three rail cushion.

New Zealand will now pin its eventing medal hopes on the individual competition.

Grenside today confirmed the three entries would be Tait, the 1996 gold medallist with Ready Teddy, on Welton Envoy, Todd on Eyespy II and Andrew Nicholson on Dawdle.

The individual competition begins on Wednesday, with first veterinary inspection this afternoon.

- NZPA