Bermuda international show jumper Patrick Nisbett has chosen to ride rookie horse Cantaro instead of the more experienced Antille 8 at next month's FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Lexington, Kentucky.

Nisbett is the first Bermudian to ever qualify for the prestigious Games, which are held every four years. That he met the qualifying standard with both horses makes his unprecedented achievement all the more impressive.

Only one of the mounts is permitted to make the journey, though, and Nisbett has opted for the in-form Cantaro rather than risk the rangy Antille 8 who is nursing an injury.

"You can only take one (horse) with you, so I've chosen to go with Cantaro," said Nisbett, who missed out on the 2008 Beijing Games when Antille 8 was injured at the 11th hour.

"Antille 8 has not been on top form and she does have a slight injury. Cantaro has been in good form and, although it may be a little bit early for him, I think it's the right decision.

"I think he has a good mentality for the job so we'll see if he was the right choice."

Although Cantaro has never travelled to an event by aeroplane before, Nisbett has no reason to believe the ten-year-old will be adversely affected by the 11-hour flight.

But before the white steed even boards the plane he will have endured an eight-hour drive from Munich, Germany, to Liege, in Belgium, where he will have been quarantine. And when he finally arrives in the US he will then go back into quarantine for a further three days.

"Cantaro has not flown before but he's got quite a good character when it comes to taking on new things so I'm not too worried," said Nisbett, who had a golf tournament held at Belmont Hills in his honour last weekend to help raise funds to cover some of the hefty travel costs.

Nisbett and Cantaro head into the Games on the back of some great form.

They won the CSI three-star show in Linz-Ebelsberg, Austria, and were also in the money with a first place finish at the FEI Grand Prix Lipica in Slovenia.

Although Nisbett has had the horse for just under four years, he said this season Cantaro had come into his own.

"(Cantaro) has had consistent results all year. He's been in the top ten probably 80 percent of the Grand Prix he has competed in.

"He's a German-bred horse and has surpassed all expectations this year."

In the horse world, the World Equestrian Games are considered to be on a par with the Olympic Games, according to Nesbitt, who says it will be biggest challenge of his career.

"Of course, I did the Pan-Am Games and that was quite a big event. But these Games are the world championships for the eight equestrian disciplines.

"As equestrian events go it's on a par with the Olympics in terms of the quality of the competition. It will be testing but I'm feeling quietly confident."

Nisbett had been based in England for years but recently decided to move to Germany to prepare for the Games following a successful Sunshine Tour in Spain.

As most of his events are staged in mainland Europe, he said it made sense to relocate to near Munich.

"It's made a big difference. Travelling from the UK to events adds another day . . . it's been a positive thing for us."

Chef d' Equipe Heidi Mello, and Nisbett's trainer, Olaf Petersen from Germany, will link up with the Bermuda jumper and Cantaro in Kentucky ahead of the start of Games.

Petersen, an internationally respected horseman and course designer at the highest level, will act as Nisbett's coach throughout the contest.

"(Olaf) has been kind enough to offer his services and be there as a sounding-board for me. I'm not training with him on a day-to-day basis but he's been a big help in deciding which competitions I need to go to in preparation," said Nisbett.