KEY POINTS:
Former three-day eventing world champion and Olympic medallist Vaughan Jefferis is coming out of retirement and aiming for the 2012 London Olympics.
Jefferis will begin his quest at the upcoming Manukau City Puhinui three-day event, starting on November 21.
Fellow Olympian Mark Todd used the event earlier this year to qualify for the Beijing Olympics, and Jefferis sees Puhinui as being the ideal jumping off point for a serious bid for further international achievement.
His first goal is the 2010 World Equestrian Championships in Kentucky.
"Puhinui has an international reputation and is one of the icon eventing courses in this part of the world. It is also a demanding venue and will provide me with a good gauge of where I am competition and fitness wise," said Jefferis.
"I saw the reception and triumph Mark enjoyed at Puhinui and the delight so many had in seeing such a great New Zealand rider back in competition. I'm a firm believer that success does follow in the steps of others' success, so I'm honoured and excited to launch my comeback at the Manukau City sponsored event."
Having not seriously ridden since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the right competitive elements needed to be in place to entice him out of retirement. With his champion mount Bounce in retirement, the first part of the comeback equation was horse power. Cuzzy Bro (owned previously by New Zealand Olympic team member Heelan Tompkins) caught his eye.
"I liked what I saw in this horse, he is a 7-year-old dark brown thoroughbred and I believe he is one of the best young horses in New Zealand. He's already qualified 3***, he's beautifully made and has the potential to become a world class athlete."
Ironically, the horse was qualified to compete at Puhinui but not the rider. But that hurdle was overcome early in November.
Rounding out the team is the return of highly accomplished groom Jo Osborne who was an integral part of the Jefferis/Bounce winning combination.
"Jo was very instrumental in my career when I was competing and took care of Bounce for me over 12 years.
"She's a remarkable horse person and she's agreed to come back and groom for me and travel around the country and the world, so we can all be part of the New Zealand Olympic team come London in 2012."
The Manukau City Puhinui 3 Day event starts on Friday, November 21, with the dressage phase; the cross country stage is on Saturday, November 22, and the event culminates with the show jumping competition on Sunday, November 23.
VAUGHAN JEFFERIS
* 1994: World Champion in three-day eventing, Denhague, Holland.
* 1996: Olympic bronze medal, Atlanta, Georgia.
* 1998: Team gold in World Championships in Rome, Italy.
* Five times Horse of the Year Showhunter title holder.
* Current coach for New Zealand and International Equestrians including number of 3*** NZ riders and two members of the 2008 United States Olympic eventing team.
