Andrew Nicholson and Nereo at WEG. Photo by Jenni Autry,
It looks like our 10 compelling reasons why Andrew Nicholson should ride for Team USA haven’t swayed him to make the move, as he told The Press he has made nice with New Zealand High Performance following a public falling out after the World Equestrian Games.
“I’ve done the debriefing of the year with the HP people and now it’s just a case of letting them digest the whole thing,” he told The Press. “I’m sure they have taken on board everything that has been said. I just gave my side of it, it’s up to them to do their bit. We need to move on. I’d be happy to put myself forward for next year to be back on the HP squad.”
It’s not a done deal yet, as Andrew is waiting to hear back from New Zealand High Performance in regards to the concerns he had about Nereo’s welfare at WEG, when the horse was left unattended while on an IV to treat dehydration after cross country, which he was “disgusted” about.
“I should know within the next couple of weeks, how the situation goes. But if I don’t put myself forward it’s sort of a dead end, isn’t it? I feel like it’s only right that I take that positive attitude because they have been happy to listen to me. You can get stuck on the wrong thing for too long, can’t you?” Andrew told The Press.
Andrew has represented New Zealand at seven Olympic Games, and with the 2016 Games at Rio de Janeiro now 18 months away, it looks like he’ll be back in the High Performance program with plenty of time to spare.
