Andrew Nicholson and Avebury, one of his horses nominated on the 2012 NZ Squad Photo: Kate Houghton/FEI
Last week Equestrian Australia named its “Shadow Squads” for London 2012 (for the Australian eventing squad list, visit Now it is New Zealand’s turn. Equestrian Sports New Zealand has announced 2012 Squads in Eventing and Dressage (combinations aiming for London 2012) and 2014 Squads in Eventing, Dressage, Showjumping, Para-Equestrian and Endurance (combinations aiming for Normandy 2014)
Clarke Johnstone and Orient Express Photo: Rachel Smith/FEI
The New Zealand eventers are being hotly tipped to be in the medals in London. On the Eventing squad, the evergreen Mark Todd and Andrew Nicholson, who showed fantastic form in 2011, are joined by the younger, but equally in form, Clarke Johnstone and Jonathan Paget. Caroline Powell, winner of Burghley in 2010 on her wonderful grey horse Lenamore, has not been named on the squad but, according to the ESNZ website, there will be a decision regarding Lenamore’s inclusion after the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials in May. Despite his 18 (or maybe officially 19 years of age now after January 1st) Lenamore looked fighting fit at Burghley last year where he came 4th and he was also 6th at last year’s Badminton. Let’s hope that we see this great partnership again in London. Caroline’s WEG horse Mac MacDonald is also currently out of contention for the squad.
Caroline Powell and Lenamore at Burghley 2011. Will we see them in London? Photo: Kate Houghton/FEI
The New Zealand 2012 Eventing Squad
| Rider | Horse | Owner/s |
| Andrew Nicholson | Nereo | Deborah Sellar |
| Andrew Nicholson | Avebury | Rosemary & Mark Barlow |
| Andrew Nicholson | Mr Cruise Control | Nicky & Robin Salmon |
| Andrew Nicholson | Armada | Paul & Diana Ridgeon |
| Clarke Johnstone | Orient Express | Johnstone Family |
| Jonathan Paget | Clifton Promise | Frances Stead & Russell Hall |
| Jonathan Paget | Clifton Lush | Frances Stead & Lucy Allison |
| Mark Todd | NZB Grass Valley * | Peter & Pam Vella |
| Mark Todd | Major Milestone | Peter & Di Brunsden |
| Mark Todd | NZB Land Vision* | Peter & Pam Vella |
Dressage rider Louisa Hill has been named as the only rider on the 2012 Dressage Squad with her talented bay gelding Bates Antonello. This combination certainly gave the Australian riders a run for their money at major Australian events in 2011, despite the fact that Bates Antonello is relatively inexperienced at Grand Prix level and is only nine years old. Vanessa Way and her horse KH Arvan were named on the 2014 Squad but Vanessa has already headed to the UK where she will be based with Carl Hester in a bid to move up to the 2012 Squad list.
