Equestrian: Rider's sights set on representing NZ at Olympics

Olympic hopeful Clarke Johnstone has not been horsing around - but getting around on horses is something the former Dunedin rider is very good at.

The 24-year-old has just completed a hectic but successful 12-months, the highlight of which was winning the World Cup Series in Paris in August.

Now he has a long and anxious wait ahead of him. The New Zealand team is not expected to be named until six or eight weeks before the Olympics, which get under way in London on July 27.

"It has been an amazing 12 months, really," Johnstone said.

"I've done some really cool events and had some good results. Heading into the Olympics there is still a lot of room for improvement but I'm feeling like things are going pretty well and I'm fairly well on track for where I want to be in eight months' time."

There is some strong competition for the five available spots. Household names like Mark Todd and Blyth Tait are back on the campaign trail.

Todd won individual gold in the three day event at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics and picked up bronze medals in the team events in 1988 and 2000.

Tait won individual gold in 1996 to go with the bronze he won in the teams event that year, and at the Barcelona Games in 1992 he won individual bronze and silver in the teams event.

Andrew Nicholson, who shared in the New Zealand team success in 1996 and 1992, is also in the mix, along with Caroline Powell, Jonathan Paget, Lucy Jackson, Jonelle Richards and Neil Spratt.

Despite the competition, Johnstone said there is healthy sense of camaraderie as well.

"They used to be these famous people that I didn't really know, so that was a bit scary. But now that I know them reasonably well it becomes a lot less daunting. They have been a really big help, rather than scary competitors."

Johnstone has qualified for Olympic selection on two of his horses: Orient Express and KS Secrets. He hopes Incognito will be added to the roster after some recent strong performances. But qualification is no guarantee of selection.

"At this stage, I'm feeling pretty confident," he said.

"With horses, anything can happen and there is a long time to go. But I'm feeling good about having three horses qualified and don't have all my eggs in one basket.

"Orient Express would definitely be my first choice to ride there all going well. If he can continue on his current form ... I think we'll be in with a pretty good shot."

Jonhstone has had the 13-year-old for the past seven years and he admits he has a soft spot for the animal.

"He is a bit of a pet, really. He is a lovely horse. We know each other inside out, so that really helps."