REDLAND Bay rider Natalie Siiankoski will take a step towards a spot in the Olympic equestrian team when she competes in the first of two qualifying events in Sydney this week.
The 21-year-old will take on Australia’s best riders at the Sydney International Three Day Event which runs from Thursday to Sunday at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre.
Natalie and thoroughbred stallion Archie will compete in dressage, showjumping and cross country events to secure a spot in the eventing team.
“I think we have a good chance but there is tough competition,” Natalie said.
“Archie’s been going well and we’ve been working extremely hard.”
She has had to train extra vigorously this year to regain Archie’s fitness after the stallion contracted horse flu at an event in Warwick last August.
While Archie is now fully recovered, the illness forced the pair to take four months out of their training schedule – something her competitors in Victoria and South Australia did not have to worry about.
The second Olympic qualifier will be held in Melbourne in May.