Going to sleep on the night before the final day of Badminton, Jonathan (Jock) Paget knew he needed two things to win.

Not so long ago, Jonathan Paget was laying bricks on Sydney building sites and trying to learn how to stay on bucking broncos for eight seconds at rodeo school.

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.

Equestrian has what chief executive Jim Ellis calls its Holy Grail in sight - eventing team gold at the Rio Olympics.

Ashleigh Mckinstry isn't your typical 20-year-old, but she has managed to win one of New Zealand's premier eventing titles, the Puhinui three-day event.

Champion showjumper Rebekah van Tiel, 15, has earned Rosehill College's sporting excellence award.