Clarke Johnstone, originally of Outram, has been selected in the New Zealand World Equestrian Games eventing team
Mark Todd and Andrew Nicholson will head a five-strong team at the event in Kentucky, in the United States later this month.
The team also includes Olympian Caroline Powell and Jonathan Paget.
Johnstone (23), who lives near Hamilton but is in Australia preparing for the games, left Dunedin two years ago to further his career, mother Jean Johnstone said.
"He shifted up there when he finished his university degree because it is very central for all equestrian activities," she said.
The former John McGlashan pupil has been "quite successful nationally", winning the advanced national title and a New Zealand world cup qualifying event.
He has also tasted some success across the Tasman but his inclusion in the New Zealand eventing team is a clear highlight.
"The World Equestrian Games are right up there with the Olympics.
They are the two big events for equestrian," Mrs Johnstone said, adding her son was very excited.
"It is going to be a lot of fun and hopefully the New Zealand team will acquit themselves well."
The experience of Todd and Nicholson, backed by the strength of Powell, and the youthful Paget and Johnstone, make for a team that could provide a stern challenge, Equestrian Sports New Zealand high performance leader Erik Duvander said.
Nicholson and Todd hold an impressive clutch of medals and titles between them, Todd having won two Olympic gold medals and two team WEG gold medals, and Nicholson a WEG team gold.
None of the horses in the team has competed at Olympic Games or WEG level, but Duvander is confident they will be in London for the 2012 Olympics.
"These are all young horses, and have hardly hit their prime, so they are looking good for WEG and the London Olympics."
Four of the combinations would ride as both individuals and a team, with the fifth riding as an individual and team reserve.
It had not been decided who would fill which slots.
Duvander expected Nicholson to be an individual medal chance while Todd's pedigree spoke for itself.
Paget had been pushed hard in the high performance programme and had stepped up at every opportunity, and Johnstone had earned praise from critics on both sides of the Tasman in recent times.
New Zealand eventing team named for the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, United States (horses in brackets): Andrew Nicholson (Nereo, with reserve horses Mr Cruise Control, Avebury and Armada), Mark Todd (NZB Grass Valley) Caroline Powell (Mac Macdonald), Jonathan Paget (Clifton Promise), Clarke Johnstone (Orient Express).
