New Zealand five-star eventer Monica Spencer is making a “sink or swim transfer” to the USA as she “provides 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 primarily based in Pennsylvania at Somehowe Yard along with her prime horse Artist, however she has now made a extra everlasting transfer, and can be primarily based 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 masking my bases. I feel all of those horses have Olympic potential,” she stated.

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

The plan is that Monica and her household can be primarily based within the US by means of to the LA Video games in 2028.

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

Monica is now specializing in the CCI5* Defender Kentucky Three-Day Occasion on 25 to twenty-eight April, which she can be focusing 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 “massively welcoming”.

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

“The local weather fits me and I see it as a very good place to construct a enterprise and put together for pinnacle occasions. It’s actually shut sufficient to Europe with US riders having made it fairly simple to shoot over and do the large ones. There’s a whole lot 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 coated a broad vary of equestrian information together with welfare issues, veterinary research, FEI Tribunal hearings and street security campaigns. She has additionally interviewed prime 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 Citadel Worldwide Horse Trials nearer to dwelling. She was additionally a key a part of the distant reporting workforce for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.