MARLBOROUGH-based eventer Jock Paget will be quite content if the only part of Rio De Janeiro that he sees next month is the podium.

Despite heading to Brazil, known for its carnival lifestyle and beautiful white beaches, Paget is only focused on the competition ahead of him.

The New Zealand rider will be travelling with his horse Clifton Lush, who has wins at Bramham and Gatcombe to his name, and Paget believes that the 17-year-old gelding will be ideal for the competition ahead.

“I can’t say I care or think too much about where I am going,” he told the Gazette & Herald.

“It doesn’t matter where I am going. It is just about what we do in the competition and it wouldn’t bother me if we didn’t see any part of Rio, other than the podium.

“I think his (Clifton Lush) strengths are in his experience and how consistent he has been.

“He has competed at a lot of big events. He has competed at three Badmintons now and three Burghleys, and has been very good at all of them, and had a lot of places and won at big level as well.

“We know that the horse knows his job and know that he likes his job, and I enjoy riding him in all three phases. It gives you confidence as a rider to go there on a horse that is strong across the board.

“Even when he doesn’t do his best test, he is still in the mix and cross country. He is a New Zealand thoroughbred, so is a tough little horse and he likes to jump on the last day and tries to be careful, so it really is a great horse to have for a competition like this.”

Paget was part of the New Zealand team that claimed bronze in London four years ago and came 10th individually but doesn’t think that experience will truly have an impact until he is in the heat of the competition.

“I think there is a lot to take from London four years ago,” he added.

“I think a lot of it will be stuff you don’t know until you are in it and then you find yourself knowing that you have been through it once before and it helps the situation.

“London was an amazing experience for me and it boosted my career in many other areas than just riding in the Olympics.

“Hopefully I can go into this Olympics with that little bit more experience and it pays.”