Let the Games Begin!

Home advantage should count for a lot when New Zealand defend their Southern Hemisphere Mounted Games Championships title at the 2011 Horse of the Year Show from 15 - 20 March.

The team swept aside the competition at the inaugural event in South Africa in 2010 and are rapt to be defending on their on ponies.

It's a perk of the hosting nation that they get to ride their own ponies, while the visitors – from South Africa and Australia – all ride borrowed mounts.

The New Zealand team is a mixture of youth and experience, with Julie Borland (Auckland) player/coach having represented NZ at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky last year, James Tulett (Morrinsville) who has twice ridden for his country, Amie Bentall (Hastings) who was a member of the victorious Southern Hemisphere Championship team in 2010, Steve Hooker (pictured, Waikato) who rode for NZ at WEG and Jasmine Fawcett (Waikato) who was also a member of the Southern Hemisphere Championship team.

The champs are but one highlight in an action-packed few days for mounted games players and spectators at HoY.

Both individual and teams champs are decided at the show. James Tulett won the individual last year, and was a member of the winning team however with his national duties, he won't be defending the latter.

Both finals will be run on Saturday.

Horse of the Year mounted games coordinator Kate Wiltshire says the games are incredibly exciting for all, and with selectors sideline looking to name a team for the World Teams Championships in Denmark in July, everyone will be giving it their all.

Story: Diana Dobson