New Zealand's best showjumpers will receive a significant boost with the launch of the inaugural Takapoto Estate Show close to Lake Karapiro, starting tomorrow.
The four-day event at Maungatautari will include Olympic and prominent international riders and is aimed at beefing up the standard of New Zealand showjumping in a top class setting which has been designed on layouts at major European events.
Think equestrian and the first stop is eventing, with names like Todd, Nicholson, Tait and Paget giving the discipline a high profile in New Zealand.
But the show, which is intended to become an annual event, is aimed at helping prepare the country's best showjumpers, and the best of the rising talent, for overseas competitions, and raise the standards.
Among those competing at the 600-acre setup is New Zealand's Sam McIntosh, while her Nations Cup-winning teammates, Bruce Goodin, Daniel Meech and Richard Gardner - who achieved one of New Zealand's finest showjumping successes in winning the Nations Cup event in Abu Dhabi this month - while also be present.