Natalie Blundell and her horse Algebra won't be off to London this year.
Yass equestrian Natalie Blundell has had her Olympic dream crushed for a second time but she has pledged to fight again in four years time.
Blundell was disappointed she wasn’t on the list of athletes to head to London that was announced on Wednesday.
“It was a bit of a shame,” she said. “It’s disappointing we didn’t make it but I’ve had a lot of really good support and everyone’s been helping me.”
“It’s a very strong team all the same; we were competing against the best in the world that happen to be Australian.”
In 2000 the rider was put out of contention when her horse was injured and she worked hard to train up her new horse, Algebra, to compete.
“I was hoping I’d at least be a reserve and get over there and compete,” she said.
The selectors went for a team of experience, with 53-year-old Andrew Hoy named for a record seventh Olympics. Four out of the five riders chosen have Olympic medals in their trophy cabinets.
Only one of the riders picked isn’t based in the UK and Blundell said she might have to change her plan of attack next time around.
“Next time I’ll know a little bit more and have a bit more idea on how to approach it, how to do things,” she said.
Blundell said she might be looking to go over to the UK in the lead up to the next Olympics.
“I’m not writing myself off for the future,” she said.
The rider said her horse will have a bit of a rest now before making a tilt for the World Equestrian Games in France in two years time.
For now Blundell will be perched up on the lounge, like the rest of Australia, watching with interest as the eventing team goes around in London.