New Zealand equestrian Tim Price and his horse Wesko have finished second at the Kentucky three-day event in the United States.
The New Zealand equestrian Tim Price. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Heading into the final day in first place Price and his mount clipped a rail to fall behind the winner Germany's Olympic champion Michael Jung.
It was Price and Wesko's debut at the event.
In a heart-stopping final phase, Price and Wesko had a single rail down in the showjumping, dropping them from first to second behind Jung.
Wesko and Price rode an otherwise perfect round, beautifully controlled and pretty to watch for the 23,000-plus spectators at the Kentucky Horse Park.
"You just have to put everything to one side and focus," said Price.
"My horse is very good in a crowd and I believed that would lift him today . . . and it did."
Price felt he rode a "slightly bad line" after the triple bar, which led to their only mistake on the course.
Next, he is off to Badminton with Ringwood Sky Boy, and later in the season return to Luhmuhlen, but this time with a young horse.
"I will definitely be back at Kentucky next year."
Price and Jung were also on the winning Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge, in a composite New Zealand, Germany, Ireland and Australian team.
Emily Cammock, the only other New Zealander competing at Kentucky, has had the worst possible end to the trip, after having to make the heart-breaking decision to euthanize her horse Dambala who sustained significant damage to his suspensory ligament during the cross country.
"He was the most honest, willing and trusting horse that always gave 150 percent," she said in a statement.
"I feel honoured that he put his trust in me and together we made a pretty awesome team."
