Equestrian duo gear up for Rio

Albany equestrian duo Sonja Johnson and Gabrielle Pither are in the frame to represent Australia at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro after the pair were named in Equestrian Australia's national eventing squad last week.

Johnson, of the South Stirlings, will represent her country at the World Equestrian Games for the third time next month and was named in the 2016 national squad alongside former Albany resident Pither who now resides in Melbourne.

The national squad will turn into the 2016 Rio squad when the World Equestrian Games finish.

Pither and her Irish sport horse Max Almighty has been included in the squad after terrific results at the 2014 Sydney International Horse Trials where she finished second in the CCI2* class and the 2014 Melbourne International Horse Trials where she won the CCI2 event.

Johnson was named in the squad with her horse Belfast Mojito but will team with Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison in the WEG in August.

The 2016 Rio squad will consist of talented combinations who are completing successfully at CCI2* and CCI3* level.