Equestrian: Paget sits easily in the saddle

Jock Paget. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Normally the prospect of seeing the world's 379th-ranked eventer sitting in the top three of the World Equestrian Games might raise a few eyebrows, but not this weekend.

Jock Paget picked up where he left off after sitting out from competition when his horse Clifton Promise tested positive for the banned drug reserpine after nearly 12 months ago.

The pair were third after the dressage phase in France yesterday.

Paget scored just 38 penalty points to trail Germany's Sandra Auffarth (35.2 penalty points) and William Fox-Pitt (37.7) in the individual standings.

His efforts also helped New Zealand to second in the teams event. Germany, traditionally strong in dressage, led on 116.9 penalty points from their top three riders, with the Kiwis on 125.5 and the US in third on 138.8. Britain, the defending champions, were fifth after counting a score of 50.0 from third rider Kristina Cook on De Novo News.

New Zealand had three combinations in the top 10 - Paget, Tim Price and Wesko were sixth on 42, and Lucy Jackson and Willy Do were equal ninth on 43.8.

Andrew Nicholson and Nereo were 14th on 45.5, while Jonelle Price on Classic Moet was 26th on 48.5 and Sir Mark Todd and Leonidas II 29th on 49.2.

Jackson and Jonelle Price were riding as individuals, with Paget, Nicholson, Tim Price and Todd making up the New Zealand team.

Last night's (NZT) cross country course was expected to suit the New Zealand combinations.

Heavy rain earlier in the week saw two fences removed on the wettest part of the course and the time reduced to 11m 30s.

The course promised to be not just big, but technical and long, which many expected would see large movements among the 90-strong field. All four of New Zealand's team riders have won at four-star level - the highest level of competition.

"I think we are going to see some tired horses," Paget told horsetalk.co.nz. "You might see some better tactics coming out with the teams. Some riders might come out and get a few time penalties to get home, some people will stick to their guns and try to make the time. I think, regardless, it's going to be an exciting day [today]."

For Paget, it's exciting to be back at top-level competition.

He wasn't taking any chances in the lead-up to the event, even having the horse feed tested for contamination.

"It's good to be back. I was really proud of him to just go in and do the same thing he did last time he did a four-star. He was very straight, very accurate, and he was listening to me the whole way through.

"There was nothing I was disappointed with. He is such a great horse. He is such a professional. He just loves his job. It's nice to let him go in there and have some fun.

"He wasn't fazed. He's getting like that every year now. He is getting better and better, he is maturing. I think the time at home while I haven't been able to compete this year has worked for him. We have worked on some little differences and he has thrived on it."

Tonight's (NZT) showjumping will decide the medals. New Zealand finished third in the teams event in Kentucky in 2010 and third at the London Olympics.