Worth Keeping an Eye On

Young New Zealand dressage rider Georgia Worth will be living the dream for many of us, as she jets off to Germany at the end of this month to represent her country before spending a year-long training stint with leading Australian rider Hayley Beresford.



The sole New Zealand combination at the FEI World Young Rider Dressage Championships from the 15th to 20th December in Frankfurt, she and her horse Veritas will be joined on the plane by Australian representatives Megan Bryant and her mare, Donnabella.

Having been based with Gold Coast trainer Ben Conn since the combination crossed the Tasman back in April for the Sydney CDI, Worth’s selection is another cherry on top of what’s been an exciting year for the 17 year old.

Georgia burst onto the NZ dressage scene last season with her 13 year old bay gelding, having purchased through Conn from successful trainer and producer of horses in New Zealand, Penny Castle. The combination competed at Prix St George/Inter I level before focusing mainly on CDI-Y at the end of the season.

In New Zealand she rose to the top, being crowned the Young Rider CDI-Y Champion, National CDI-Y Champion, Horse Of The Year CDI-Y Freestyle Champion, Horse Of The Year CDI-Y Reserve Champion before finishing a creditable fourth and fifth at Sydney CDI-Y on her International debut.



Making the big step up to riding a trained Grand Prix horse from a pony who she competed at novice level, Georgia’s sheer talent and natural feel has seen her quickly grasp the higher level movements while maintaining the level of training and suppleness most young riders who throw themselves in the deep end would struggle to.

Having trained under the watchful eye of Conn since purchasing Veritas, of Georgia's talent he said “Georgia is one of the most exciting young riders I have seen on the international scene. She has a serious aptitude both physically and mentally for training and competing at the highest level. She will now go on to work with a good friend of mine in Germany, Hayley Beresford, at the stable where Bellissimo stands, which will no doubt see her bring more of her ambition and talent to fruition.”

Standing at 16.3hh, Veritas is by Voltaire II, a popular Dutch Warmblood in New Zealand who stood at the Cornege family’s Seattle Lodge Stud and is better known as a sire of showjumpers. Commenting on her steed, Georgia described him as “A really sweet, cuddly guy! He is awesome. I am very lucky to have been able to purchase him.”

Having spent well over a year looking for the right horse, Georgia claims he was well worth the wait “He has such a great work ethic, it is a really wonderful that I am able to ride such a well-trained horse that I feel like I connect so well with.”

At home in New Zealand Georgia has a yearling colt by Furst Romancier she and her mother, Janne bred from an Anamour/Distelfink mare on lease from Henton Lodge.

Georgia contributes her unfolding opportunities to her supporters “I am very lucky to have wonderfully supportive parents, whom have allowed me to take every opportunity possible. Plus I have a wonderful team of supporters in Horsezone, [URL="http://www.fortissimofreestyles.com.au/"]Fortissimo Freestyles[/URL] and Ben, whom without, I would have never been able to gain so much from these opportunities.”

Follow Georgia and Valdi’s progress throughout their adventure by staying tuned to Horsezone.

Click here to view horses listed on Horsezone with Dutch Warmblood blood.