Monica Spencer strikes to Florida forward of Paris 2024

New Zealand five-star eventer Monica Spencer is making a “sink or swim transfer” to the USA as she “offers it her all” for Paris 2024.

This week Monica, who was a part of the New Zealand bronze medal-winning squad on the 2022 World Championships, flew to the US along with her husband Andrew, and the couple’s two-year-old son Gus, on a “household journey with a excessive efficiency twist”.

Final 12 months Monica was based mostly in Pennsylvania at Somehowe Yard along with her high horse Artist, however she has now made a extra everlasting transfer, and will likely be based mostly in Ocala, Florida, on the similar secure as her countryman Edward Ewbank.

Former racehorse Artist is already in Florida and is being hacked out by Edward in preparation for the beginning of the season. Monica’s up-and-coming rides, Marvel (owned by Sanda and David Ray, and Monica and Andrew), Aviator (owned by Monica and Andrew) and Valkyrie (owned by Ken Quigley, and Monica and Andrew), depart for the US on 12 February.

“Some might imagine I’m mad taking three two-star horses up there with me however I’m protecting my bases. I believe all of those horses have Olympic potential,” she stated.

“That is the massive transfer – sink or swim!”

The plan is that Monica and her household will likely be based mostly within the US by to the LA Video games in 2028.

“Artist will solely be 16 then too, so could also be a contender as properly,” stated Monica.

Monica is now specializing in the CCI5* Defender Kentucky Three-Day Occasion on 25 to twenty-eight April, which she will likely be concentrating on with Artist. It is going to be the pair’s Kentucky debut, and third begin at five-star collectively. They have been seventh at Maryland 5 Star in October.

Monica has discovered the US “vastly welcoming”.

“There’s an actual hype round eventing there and so they have two five-stars now in order that’s cool,” she stated.

“The local weather fits me and I see it as an excellent place to construct a enterprise and put together for pinnacle occasions. It’s definitely shut sufficient to Europe with US riders having made it fairly simple to shoot over and do the massive ones. There may be loads of alternative within the US and that excites me.”

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H&H senior information author

Since becoming a member of H&H in 2018, Becky has lined a broad vary of equestrian information together with welfare issues, veterinary research, FEI Tribunal hearings and street security campaigns. She has additionally interviewed high riders together with Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to call only a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, in addition to the Royal Highland and Blair Fort Worldwide Horse Trials nearer to dwelling. She was additionally a key a part of the distant reporting staff for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.