Rider, horse out to soak up atmosphere

LOUISA Andrew is set to celebrate her birthday competing at one of equestrian’s biggest events.

The now44yearold is in Auckland this weekend to compete at Equitana.

One of the sport’s top events, it has been billed as the ‘‘most international equestrian event in the southern hemisphere since the 2000 Olympics’’.

Andrew is competing in the Connexion category, which places an emphasis on the horsemanship of the riders.

A timed event, it incorporates show jumping, dressage and liberty, involving agility, obstacles, precision and performance from the horses.

Riders were judged both on how well they completed the tasks as well as the horsemanship they exhibited in doing so.

At five years old, Andrew’s horse Zefir was young, although the rider was hoping the event would help it get some good experience.

‘‘We’re really here just for the whole crowd experience and getting used to all that atmosphere.

‘‘That’s a really big part of it for horses as well. They’re not used to all the people and all the energy.

‘‘It’s quite a big deal for them.

‘‘So she’s quite young, so we’re just going to soak all that up and prepare her for her future.’’

Having been around horses her whole life, Andrew found her niche in horsemanship 20 years ago.

She enjoyed working with the horse, as opposed to trying to get the horse to do what you wanted it to.

An equine dentist, foot trimmer and horsemanship teacher she had 18 horses, which she looked after on her Otago Peninsula property.