DAISY FOLLOWS DRESSAGE DREAM

GOLD Coast teenager Daisy Fielding will take part in the inaugural Queensland versus New Zealand young rider dressage challenge.

Accomplished at state and national level, Fielding is stoked to have scored an international outing, with the first leg to be held at the under-25 New Zealand titles on April 21-22 at Taupo.

“I’m so excited to be selected and to have the opportunity to represent Queensland dressage in the international arena,” she said.

“I dream of representing Australia one day. This is a tiny step in that direction.”

Queensland hosts the second stage of the challenge in September.

Fielding and her horse Vinnie work with Coast trainer Nicole Tough and she described the rigours involved with dressage.

“With more than half a tonne of muscle and power under you, with both a mind and heart of its own, there is definitely a high degree of risk in training and competing,” Fielding said.

“Poor decisions and environmental factors beyond the rider’s control can both have catastrophic consequences … dressage is not a sport for the fainthearted.”