2011 NZ Horse of the Year Show

Kevin Hansen has a million reasons to smile.

As he puts the finishing touches to the 2011 New Zealand Horse of the Year Show he can look back on a year that has seen him and his team tick all the boxes.

In tight financial times, they've managed to gather the necessary sponsorship and support needed to put on one of the Southern Hemisphere's most prestigious events. It costs $2.1 million to put on the show.

“We'd love to be able to bring in a whole lot of top quality entertainment and combinations for this event, but it costs so much, and I am confident we do a great job on the budget we work within,” says Hansen.

To add to his joy, the Australians are sending a top-notch team to take on New Zealand in a test match that will be part of the Silver Fern Stakes during the Friday Night Extravaganza, the Bell Tea Olympic Cup is a qualifier for the 2012 London Olympic Games so that's attracted even more top combinations from across the Tasman and there are record numbers of dressage grand prix horses competing for their top honours.

And that's just the start of it all.

Honorary Venezuelan Kiwi Leopoldo Palacios is once again winging his way Down Under to design the top courses in the international showjumping arena.

“What Horse of the Year Show would be complete without Leopoldo here,” says Hansen. “He's the man when it comes to this.”

It's thanks to his genius that those who jump the opening round of the Olympic Cup with eight faults or less, gain certificate of capability for the London Olympics.

Hansen doesn't really like to say it out loud, but there's a danger the Aussies could, once again, snaffle the Olympic Cup honours.

In the world of dressage, 2010 champs Jody Hartstone and Whisper will not be defending their title but there are 17 combinations entered at grand prix level.

“It's an incredible number,” says Hansen, “and perhaps the better news is that the standard is rising with those increasing numbers. It is very exciting.”

And fitting too, for the $20,000 prize purse on offer in the GJ Gardner Homes dressage kur – a freestyle test of the highest level ridden to music.

There will be eight dressage arenas operating for three days of the show, tapering down to the main one for the weekend's top competitors.

Another of Hansen's favourites is the three day Alltech eventing with a world class 3* cross country course on offer from John Nicholson which takes competitors across the adjoining golf course.

“It's a stunning course without doubt and one we continue to invest in each year.”

This year they invested a further $8,000 in the course, as part of their ongoing commitment to eventing.

A new discipline welcomed to the ranks this year is para-equestrian, which will see combinations competing in the main dressage arena. Hansen says he's very pleased to welcome para-equestrian to the fold and looks forward to building the discipline's involvement at the show further in years to come.

“There's no doubt this is going to be another fantastic event,” says Hansen. “We always look to make it better than the year before, and this will be no different.”

CLICK HERE to visit the Horse of the Year website.

Story: Diana Dobson  Photo: www.dianablack.com