Andrew Nicholson's remarkable eventing success over the past year has raised the bar for New Zealand riders aiming for the top.

Andrew Nicholson is again the toast of the eventing world with victory at the top-ranking Luhmuhlen CCI4 in Germany this morning.

Points will be on leading New Zealand rider Andrew Nicholson's mind going into the four-star Luhmuhlen event starting in Germany tomorrow night.

The number of injuries from horse accidents has risen, costing ACC more than $11 million in claims in one year.

Veteran horseman Mark Todd was formally knighted for services to equestrian sport by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace yesterday.

New Zealand bronze medallists in the teams competition at last year's London Olympics; Andrew Nicholson victorious at three successive four star events, most recently Kentucky last month; and Jock Paget triumphs on his first attempt at Badminton this week

Not so long ago, Jonathan Paget was laying bricks on Sydney building sites, now he's just the second Kiwi to win the Badminton Horse Trials.

Jonathan Paget has won the Badminton horse trials in a thrilling finish which came down to the final rail. The 29-year-old becomes only the second New Zealander to win the prestigious event after Sir Mark Todd, with fellow Kiwi Andrew Nicholson finishing third. Paget went into the show jumping round in second place needing a clear round on Clifton Promise and hoping that the leader Michael Jung dropped at least one rail.

The margin between Andrew Nicholson and William Fox-Pitt, both vying for equestrian's grand slam at this weekend's Badminton, could hardly be closer.

'That is lovely. Just lovely," says a young woman wearing white jodhpurs and a tweed jacket. Her friend responds a few seconds later: "That is very nice ... beautiful."

Dannie Lodder was right when she counted on yesterday bringing a little luck for her at the Kihikihi International Horse Trial.

It is accepted wisdom that if you want to make it in the eventing world from this neck of the woods, the United Kingdom is where you have to be.

Mixed among the traditional equine disciplines such as showjumping and dressage, the Horse of the Year Show offers a wide range of activities to suit all palates.

The 2016 Rio Olympics are on the minds of Equestrian Sports New Zealand, who today announce their new high performance eventing squads.