Emma Simpson says being selected as second reserve for the New Zealand team for the Inter Pacific exchange is the greatest thrill in her 11-year involvement in pony club competitions.
Emma (18), who is a member of the Elderslie-Totara branch, represented Ashburton-South Canterbury-North Otago during selection at Nga Tawa School in Marton recently.
There were 22 riders from throughout New Zealand vying for selection, only four of them from the South Island - Emma, Anna Nesbit and Grace Mannerswood (Otago-Southland) and Katie Meredith (Canterbury).
Emma had to give a speech, be interviewed on everything from pony club to tourism, and then ride and jump three unfamiliar horses.
The team selected comprises four members and three reserves.
It was not yet known how many would be in the team for the competition in May, which will include riders from Australia, Canada, the United States, Japan and Hong Kong.
Emma has two horses, Tussock Lane and Mellibank.
She kept them in Timaru while at boarding school and plans to take them to Christchurch when she starts studying at university there this year.
