NZ's Olympic Showjumping Hopes Fade

New Zealand's hopes of having showjumping represented at the 2012 Olympic Games are looking slim, with news that Katie McVean has returned from Europe this weekend.

McVean headed to Holland with the offer to ride Wavantos VD Renvillehoeve for a Dutch owner with the aim of qualifying New Zealand for the Olympics at Aachen in Germany early next month.

But on arrival the horse had not yet arrived at the Dutch stable, and 25-year-old McVean felt time was simply running out.

“It was going to be tight going into Aachen as it was, but with the horse not yet there it just seemed to be getting tougher and tougher,” said McVean. “This isn't how I wanted to be preparing for such an important event.”

She will now focus her efforts on a growing stable of exciting young horses at her Mystery Creek base.