Disabled Tauranga rider Jodie Thorne and her new ‘partner' cleaned up at the Horse of the Year competition at Hastings.

Jodie had just six weeks to train with her new horse ‘San Mateo Tech Effects' before going to compete for the first time in the national competition.

Jodie Thorne. Photo: Lisa Charman.

Jodie and Tech won two second places and a reserve champion for their grade.
'I'm absolutely stoked with our results,” says Jodie.
'It was a very daunting prospect to compete at such a huge event with so little time to prepare.

'Tech only arrived in Tauranga at the beginning of February, so we've been training pretty intensively to be as ready as possible for the show.”
Jodie and Tech competed in two para equestrian dressage tests in Grade 1a.
'I was really nervous for the first test, but we did well.

'When I walked into the arena on the second day with my music for my freestyle test, I felt really relaxed and I rode the entire test with a smile on my face!
'It was great to meet up with the other para riders from around the country and to be a part of one of the biggest events in the equestrian calendar.”
Jodie received the Bell Tea Rider of the Day award for her first ride on Wednesday. 'That was such a surprise! I had to go into the main showjumping arena in front of the grandstand to collect my prize and it was awesome to be standing on the same turf that the top showjumpers had been competing on just before.”
Jodie and Tech aim to train hard through the winter to prepare for a full season of competition next year.
'I can't wait!” says Jodie.
'I am so grateful to all of my support crew and sponsors who made it possible for us to get to Horse of the Year.

'I couldn't do it without them and I feel very lucky to have such a great team around me. It's onwards and upwards from here!”
You can follow Jodie's progress on www.paraequestrian.co.nz or on her Facebook page.