Equestrian: Tait badly injured

World champion equestrian Blyth Tait has been badly hurt in a riding accident just six weeks before he is due to defend his title.

Tait will undergo surgery tomorrow after fracturing his jaw and a cheekbone and damaging an eye socket when his horse Lily the Pink tossed her head back and struck him while competing in England.

His father, Bob Tait, said last night that Tait should still be able to ride for New Zealand at the World Equestrian Games in Spain in September.

Tait and his horse Reddy Teddy won the individual and team gold medals at the last championships in Italy in 1998.

The New Zealand eventing team for Spain is due to be named next week, with Tait and Reddy Teddy certain to be included.