The finishing touches are being done at the Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre in Taupo in readiness for the NRM National Three Day Event Championships.
Horses and riders from across the country are expected to descend on the township to lay claim to some of the most prestigious eventing titles in New Zealand at the championships, which runs from May 10-13.
On the line is the Wills Trophy for the winner of the NRM CCI3* National Championship, the Picadilly Trophy for the winner of the Bates CCI2* National Championship, the Mamaku Trophy for the winner of the Fiber Fresh CCI1* National Championship, the Thomson Trophy for the victor in the Wairakei Resort CCN105 National Championship and the Mary Bowling Memorial Trophy for the Equissage National Young Event Horse Championship. Also up for grabs are honours in the AMS Saddlery and Prestige Equestrian CCI1* Open and CCN105 Open.
The always popular Silver Spurs trophy will be contested between selected North and South Island teams and the Caseley Trophy will be awarded to the best prepared and presented horse, which will be judged across the entire competition.
The NRM 3DE is also the final hit out for the 2017-2018 national eventing series with the ESNZ Eventing Super League, Equissage Pro Am Rider, Mitavite Young Rider, PEL Amateur Rider, ESNZ Eventing Junior Rider and ESNZ Eventing Grassroots crowns all decided.
Chris Ross is designing the cross country courses for the CCI3* and CCI2* classes, with John Holmes in charge of the rest. Philippa Howells is designing the show jumping courses.
The experienced equine nutrition specialists from NRM and McMillan will be running their on farm consults at the NRM horse weigh station on Thursday morning. There are a couple of fun functions planned too, with the Fiber Fresh BBQ for riders on Friday evening, straight after the riders meeting and Event Riders Association meeting. Tickets for Saturday night’s NRM spit roast dinner can be bought through Equestrian Entries, with cash sales also available up until midday on Friday at the venue.
The very popular Bates saddle raffle, which raises funds for the event, features a brand new Advanta eventing saddle, worth $5,495. The saddle is set to be launched in the New Zealand market from early May, and representatives from Bates will be at the NRM 3DE offering saddle demonstrations and more.
Entries are set to close shortly.
A Chilly Taupo Morning – 2017 NRM National Three Day Event, by Diana Dobson/The Black Balloon