Kiwi Louisa Hill and Bates Antonello Primed and Ready!

Louisa Hill and Bates Antonello at EQUITANA 2011

It’s D-day for New Zealand’s sole dressage representative at the London Olympics.

Louisa Hill and her stunning horse Bates Antonello (AJ) will compete in the individual dressage competition  Friday morning at 2.02am (NZ time) and 12.02am (Australian time).

For the 50-year-old from Auckland, who is competing at her second Olympics, it will be a relief to get underway after a rather challenging preparation.

“It’s all in the lap of the gods now,” said Hill. “I will go into that arena and do the very best we can.”

Equestrian Sports New Zealand high performance director Sarah Harris has no doubt that will be just what Hill will do.

“She is a true competitor and we know she will be giving 100% in that arena.”

Hill is hopeful of getting through the first cut, which will see half the field of 50 dropped off.

“It would be absolutely fantastic to make it through to the special.”

But for now, she is taking things a step at a time.

The combination had their first arena familiarisation on Tuesday (NZ time).

“It’s a massive arena and extremely open. AJ is better in something a little more closed in but he was still good.”

The only thing he spooked at was one of the eventing cross country jumps.

“He thought he was going to be shot by one of the cannons!”

Hill has her German coach Andreas Mueller with her, as well as her mother Jenny Hill and groom Catherine Scott.

Story: Diana Dobson/ESNZ

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