ESNZ Board Chair Lynda Clark welcomes Sue Hobson as an Honorary Life Member at the 2025 Equestrian Sports New Zealand 75th Anniversary and Hall of Fame Awards. Wellington. ESNZ 27.6.25
ESNZ announced this year’s Honorary Life Members who have made an outstanding contribution to our sport, at the 75th Anniversary Dinner and Hall of Fame Awards held in the Banquet Hall at Parliament Buildings on Friday night. They are:
Sue Hobson (Dressage)
Sue Hobson is awarded Honorary Life Member at the 2025 Equestrian Sports New Zealand 75th Anniversary and Hall of Fame Awards. Wellington. ESNZ 27.6.25
Sue Hobson’s involvement in the sport spans 48 years. She has embraced such a diverse range of roles at local, national and international level, that her connection to the sport has in turn reached every corner of the sport in both the discipline and ESNZ NSO framework. The immediate past-President of Dressage NZ (2020- 2024) when the role was dissolved, she has also held the positions of Dressage NZ Chair, Dressage NZ Judges Officer, FEI Dressage World Challenge Organising Committee, Dressage NZ Finance Officer, FEI Judge 4* Dressage Judge & FEI Young Horse Judge and NZ Judge Educator & Mentor. Currently, Sue judges extensively in New Zealand and Australia and co-ordinates FEI Group VIII online judges training. Significant achievements during her time include International Competitor and NZ representative at Grand Prix level in Australia, 89 Official FEI assignments having Judged Internationally in Australia, Japan, Great Britain, USA, Austria, Malaysia. She has attended 18 international judges accreditation or transfer up courses since 2012. Sue has also been a sponsor for thirty-three years with husband Brian, through their company Hobson Horse Coaches, and they are one of the original sponsors of what is now the Super 5 League.
Gill Usher (Dressage)
Gill Usher is a dressage judge based in Canterbury who has been contributing to equestrian sport in New Zealand as a dressage and eventing dressage judge for over forty years. In the sport of eventing, for many years she was a highly respected FEI dressage judge, and more latterly, judging at a national level. For the dressage discipline, Gill has been a judge for over forty years and is still a List A Dressage Judge, often taking the role of Technical Delegate, dotting the “i’s” and crossing the “t’s”, and ensuring events are run according to the rules. We can only guess at how many times she has sat at “A” and performed her task as judge with skill and dedication. It is officials such as Mrs Usher that are the backbone of our sport – showing up week after week, year after year, dependable, hugely experienced, and a total pleasure to have at events. Her fellow judge, Jill Husband, said Gill was the “go to” for Dressage rule changes in Canterbury – she kept up to date and often attended Canterbury Dressage meetings. Gill and her husband Charles were always wonderful hosts for visiting international dressage judges making sure the judges had a memorable dining experience and took home memories of New Zealand hospitality at its best. Charles once said, “I soon discovered the only way I was to ever see Gill at weekends was to join the club as it were, and so I became a steward so I could tag along !”
Helen Christie (Eventing)
Dr Margaret Evans (Eventing)
Helen Christie and Dr Margaret Evans receive their official pins as Honorary Life Members of Equestrian Sports New Zealand at the 75th Anniversary and Hall of Fame Awards. Wellington. ESNZ. 27.6.25.
Helen Christie has represented New Zealand on the international equestrian stage as both an FEI steward and as a member of the Ground Jury at countless events for more than two decades. She has officiated at 5* eventing competitions and World Equestrian Games on all continents, and last year her attendance at the Paris Olympic Games represented the 7th time she has attended the Olympics as an official, a feat rarely achieved. Helen travels widely every year in her role as an FEI judge and steward, and is away weeks at a time as she officiates at several competitions in a row, dovetailing them in with extraordinary stamina and organisational travel planning skills. But when Helen is home, she is equally likely to be found judging at a local Southland event, Pony Club or ESNZ, or helping in whatever capacity she can. Helen is a great ambassador for both New Zealand and our sport – she is forever enthusiastic, practical, huge supporter of riders regardless of their current level, and a great communicator forging friendships and contacts worldwide.
Dr Margaret Evans has given selflessly and wholeheartedly to equestrian sport, particularly Eventing, with an unwavering commitment and a quiet, unassuming presence that belies the scale of her impact. Marg’s commitment to the equestrian community spans over 25 years with ESNZ. Among her many roles, she has served ESNZ as Chair of Eventing Canterbury Area Group, FEI ODE & 3DE Event Director, Chair of ESNZ Eventing Board, and as a member of the ESNZ Board. Her ESNZ service followed earlier voluntary roles in Pony Club and has extended to significant positions beyond ESNZ, including with the NZ Equine Research Foundation, the NZ Equine Trust Board, and International Equine Research Symposia. ESNZ members have benefited here with Marg’s promotion of knowledge re horse performance, management and welfare via research, booklets and seminars / lecture series. Marg exemplifies the highest ideals of dedication. She has taken on any role at Events; from fence judging to FEI Event Director, and Eventing Canterbury have run 6+ events a year, many more than other Organising Committees. She has often been the first person to arrive at an event and the last to leave, contributing countless hours behind the scenes to ensure everything runs safely, efficiently, and to the highest standard. Marg’s depth of knowledge of event management and FEI regulations is remarkable and widely respected.
Rowan Armer (Eventing)
Rowan Armer has run the gauntlet in Eventing from a rider’s parent, volunteer, committee member, technical delegate and course designer. Recently he has resigned from chairperson of Eventing Bay of Plenty, still an active member and still is actively course designing and functioning as a TD. As one competitor/organiser said – “Everything Rowan has done in the Equestrian scene is an achievement that benefits everyone but himself & his wife Zilla.” Rowan has shifted the Eventing BOP XC twice from Mamaku to Riverdale, and then Riverdale to Te Teko. He was part of the cross country redevelopment the Fiber Fresh NEC Taupō with John Nicholson, and more recently built the ‘Billabong’ in the Training Ground at NEC. Most competitors don’t know Rowan, until you tell them to look out for his trusty White Toyota Hilux. He is always the last to leave after an event, but the first to rescue someone who has been left to set up show jumping courses on their own. You could say he has ‘outshone” all volunteers with what he has done for the sport – both at events and behind the scenes. A person that we can all look up to… Rowan is “one of the good guys”. Plenty of common sense, patience, sound advice and wisdom. Whenever there is a working bee, chores to be done or jumps painted – Rowan is there – any weather (including lightning storms) and even when he’s too lame to be presented at a Pre-Purchase Examination!
Marilyn Vincent (Jumping/Show Hunter)
Roger Laplanche (Jumping)
Marilyn Vincent and Roger Laplanche receive their official pins as Honorary Life Members of Equestrian Sports New Zealand at the 75th Anniversary and Hall of Fame Awards. Wellington. ESNZ. 27.6.25.
Marilyn Vincent is a well-known Show Hunter course designer, judge and steward. and has been an integral part of the Waikato Show Hunter Committee and shows for many years. Her contributions span from grassroots involvement to national-level recognition. Marilyn has been named Course Designer of the Year as voted by members, on several occasions, a testament to the quality and rideability of her courses. Riders often praise her thoughtful and flowing designs. She compiled and updated the Show Hunter Course Design Booklet, a vital resource for aspiring and current course designers across New Zealand. This guide is part of Equestrian Sports New Zealand’s (ESNZ) official materials and helps standardize course design nationwide. Marilyn also presented the Course Designer Pathway at the ESNZ Show Hunter AGM, outlining how individuals can progress from candidate to national-level course designers. Her leadership has helped shape the development of officials in the sport. Beyond her technical skills, Marilyn is known for her eye for sportsmanship. At one event, she awarded a young rider the Aniwell Prize for Sportsmanship after witnessing the rider’s kindness toward her pony following a fall—a moment that left a lasting impression. During the late 1990s through to early 2000s Marilyn and her horse Mitch were Show Hunter stars – winning major classes throughout the North Island, and setting an example for aspiring Show Hunter riders. Marilyn has spent many years as a member of the SH Executive, and continues to be instrumental as one of the leaders in the ongoing development of Show Hunter through her leadership in the SH Technical Committee.
Roger Laplanche is a retired FEI Level 3 course designer (highest level in NZ), senior TD and previously on the Jumping technical committee, making a significant contribution to the development of course designing in NZ. As a course designer, he travels New Zealand and Australia testing and challenging showjumpers of all ages and stages. The semi-retired farmer who has for more than 40 years been a volunteer in the sport hails from Lyalldale, just out of Timaru. Roger, who received the Pilmer Plate Lifetime Volunteer/Officials’ Award in 2023, has built on both sides of the Tasman including at the Sydney and Adelaide royal shows
Adrian White (Jumping)
Adrian White is NZ’s first Jumping Olympian as an individual in Rome Olympic Games in 1960, then again in 1964 as a part of the first NZ Jumping team at Tokyo alongside the Gisborne crew of Graeme and Bruce Hansen, with Charlie Matthews as the reserve. Adrian’s family have long been extremely well respected in the world of equestrian – his mother Rona held the record at the Hawke’s Bay Spring Show for decades winning the open, ladies and hunters’ jump at one show. His father Pat was master of the Hawke’s Bay hunt through the war, while his uncle Duncan Holden was the driving force behind the formation of the Horse Society (now ESNZ), and his cousin Peter Holden was the winner of the first Olympic Cup, which was held in 1953. These days his son has taken over the 250-acre certified organic farm just south of Hastings where they graze dairy cows producing milk used to create award-winning organic cheese. It has been restoratively farmed for 27 years, with no spray or chemical fertiliser in more than 40 years.
Tony Parsons (ESNZ Vet General)
Tony Parsons has taken part in competitions at all the world’s continents apart from Antarctica, in his role as an FEI official vet. As one of twenty-seven FEI vets in New Zealand, Tony is the first to achieve Level 4 certification in Endurance, while also certified at level 3 in Jumping, Dressage and Eventing. Based in Taupō, he had to pass online examinations before passing a three-day course in Lausanne, Switzerland. Tony’s journey caps off a long-standing history of veterinary work which began in the late 1980s. Coming from a sheep and cattle farm in Wairarapa, Tony began his career in the Tokoroa District, and he began attending to horses under the guidance of Wallie Niederer. He moved to Taupō in 1997 and has been an official vet for ESNZ since 1994. He retired from his practice in 2020, but his official ‘sideline’ has continued. Tony’s time over the years has been equally split between Eventing and Endurance, and he also supports Dressage and Jumping events. However, Endurance does seem to be his favourite discipline. Tony continues to be the ESNZ Vet General on the ESNZ Technical Committee, advising all disciplines on Veterinary and Horse Welfare.
Wendy Farnell (Endurance)
Honorary Life Member Wendy Farnell receives her pin at the 2025 Equestrian Sports New Zealand 75th Anniversary and Hall of Fame Awards. Wellington. ESNZ 27.6.25
Wendy is an official for both National and FEI as a judge, steward and TD. Wendy is instrumental in bringing the sport together. Not only has she spent over 40 years in the sport officiating and volunteering at rides, in the past she has also been an Endurance Board member and is currently on the Officials Training Panel, an official’s course director as well as FEI official. In the past years Wendy has become the go-to person for entries throughout the country and also has been using her own time and resources to become the vet gate at all lower South Island rides as well as all three Championships and two non-championship FEI rides throughout the country.
For more see: https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/esnz/about-esnz/75-years-anniversary/