Equestrian: Future of equestrian events in good hands

As Blyth Tait bows out of international equestrian competition today, the future is emerging in riders like Jonelle Richards.

Richards, an Olympic reserve at Athens, goes into the final day placed second in the Three Day Event at Puhinui.

Whitford-based Kate Strankowski leads on 63 faults, after 8.8 time-penalties in the cross-country phase and after two of the three events. She is ahead of Richards on 70.4 faults with 9.2 time-penalties. Alex de Luca Oliviera is third on 71 faults after an impressive 7.6 time-penalties on the cross-country.

The competition comes as New Zealand equestrianism is going through a time of change and Richards is excited to be part of the new era.

"I am really lucky to be coming in at this time. People before me have been living in the shadow of legends and never had a chance. But there is definitely an opening now and we need someone to really put their hand up and be keen for it and that is what I am trying to do," said the 24-year-old.

Her time at Athens was a real eye opener to the quality required to be successful at the top level. Richards returned to England after Athens, eager to establish a clear plan of what she needs to achieve to be competitive at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

"It's about finding a strict plan to achieve your objectives - but it is very to achieve it here."

Richards heads back to England in January to prepare for Badminton in May. At Badminton, she hopes to qualify for the world championships in two years and blood two new horses to be ready for Burghley.

"You need back ups in this game because a lot can go wrong," she said.

She has spent 10 out of the last 18 months in England with her horse Mazetto. He is a born-and-bred New Zealand horse that Richards has been riding for the past five years.

But she was very pleased with her loaned horse Brookland's first competitive cross-country showing.

"He was fantastic and very scopey. I really had a lot of confidence going into jumps on him.

While Tait and Mark Todd have ended their careers, Richards said you cannot put a price on what they are still giving to New Zealand equestrian sports.

"They are both amazing mentors, they are great people and they help you keep your focus and make sure you don't settle for less."