Fireside chats with some of ESNZ’s favourite equestrians at the 75th Anniversary and Hall of Fame Awards for 2025. Wellington. 27.6.25.

Some of ESNZ’s favourite equestrians from throughout the ages took part in a series of “fireside chats” to reflect on the past 75 years of equestrian sports, at the 75th Anniversary Dinner and Hall of Fame awards on Friday night. Approximately 260 guests were buoyed along, often laughing at the ‘good old days’ as three sessions were conducted.  Each session covered a different 25 year period during ESNZ’s history, and was hosted by ESNZ’s Communications and Marketing Manager, Danni Mulrennan.

Session one:  75-50 years ago

Journalist Virginia Caro wrote a book for the 50th anniversary of the Taupō NEC and was able to share some insights into its development in the early 1970s. The process had been hard yakka and relied on the strength of volunteers combined with good old kiwi ingenuity to get the job done. (NEC Christchurch was opened 10 years later in 1983). 

Ross Coles was fresh from officially retiring this week as Clerk of the Course after more than six decades of service to the racing industry.  He spoke about his other love, Showjumping, and recalled how showjumpers had to carry a 75kg weight in all equestrian classes, which for light-framed Ross was not easy. 

Richard Sunderland who has held numerous and influential positions within the equestrian sector, spoke the Horse of the Year show, first held in 1953 at the Palmerston North Showgrounds, before moving to Karaka and eventually Hastings.  He brought humour to a number of insights that suggested it wasn’t all plain sailing in those early years.

Kevin James commented on the introduction of Endurance, and the freedom it gave him to encounter the New Zealand landscape.  This was evidenced when he had completed 19  x 160km endurance courses at the national championships back in April.  His love of Endurance had grown to become a family sport, that included his young son Robbie who joined the chats later.

Merran Hain was fortunate to arrive in time, after weather hold ups saw her dress for the award ceremony on the side of the road while her Uber drive waited.  She recalled how her father-in-law Doug Hain had introduced electronic timing into New Zealand, for 600 pounds or the same price as an Anglia car.   A highlight was when she was awarded the Commonwealth Cup by Queen Elizabeth II during one of several trips to represent her country internationally.

Session two:  50-25 years ago

Tinks Pottinger was congratulated for becoming a grandmother, with the arrival of daughter Muzi’s baby girl. The baby is likely to secure a fourth generation of the family’s riding dynasty, and Tinks laughed as she said she was aware that Jock Paget already had a pony lined up for the baby.  Tinks commented on Eventing in New Zealand, which was still in its infancy in contrast to her experience while competing at Burghley, Badminton and the Olympics in the 80s.

Fellow Olympian Blyth Tait MBE spoke of how the international Eventing scene warmly welcomed kiwi riders from the tiny island at the bottom of the world onto the global stage.  Ready Teddy Bear, who was created as a fundraiser to get the team to the 1996 Olympic Games, joined Blyth on stage.  Blyth shared his favourite memories of the real Ready Teddy, who he had tried to sell twice before becoming his successful Olympic mount.

Amanda (Mandy) Illston delightfully explained that there were two Amanda Illstons (both in the room) and she was the showjumping version.   She commented on how showjumping had been one of the early focuses of the NZ Horse Society, and had seen a number of developments during the mid-years.

Anthea Dixon gave an insight into Para equestrian, which had developed in the 1990s and become a part of the Paralympic Games for the first time at Atlanta 1996.  She said para equestrian was introduced as ESNZ’s fifth discipline a few years later.  Anthea was part of the committee at its inception.

Sharon Field responded on how Australia and New Zealand initially were not considered serious dressage countries, and it had taken longer to start in New Zealand than showjumping and eventing.  She spoke about the development of the discipline and her own experiences with Grand Prix horses, one of which was NZ’s first Olympic dressage horse.

Session Three:  25 years ago until now

Renai Hart talked about the introduction of Warmbloods which were formally brought into NZ in the late 1970s, and this had been of benefit to those in the Dressage discipline.  She also commented that Thoroughbred x Warmblood cross breeds had been successful.  While conformation was important, so was temperament, and she shared a story about one of her favourite stallions.

As an active competitor, Donna Edwards Smith discussed training methods and how these were continuing to be refined as Eventing continued to evolve in New Zealand.  A change of format in the early 2000s saw the creation of the “short” or “modified format”, and although controversial at the time, this had not had a significant impact on how New Zealanders continued to train their eventing horses.

Robbie James was inspired by his dad Kevin, who was part of the Endurance team that won the gold medal at the World Endurance Championships in the UAE.   As a youngster, Robbie grew up with horses and has seen an increasing number of riders in this country turning to Endurance.  He plans to increase his competition work as he gets older.

Louise Duncan spoke about seeing athletes with a disability increasingly taking part in more and more sports at a national and international levels.  She has seen a cultural shift in people’s perception of para sports, and the increasing support being provided to para equestrians like herself.  Her horse Showcase BC (who has just won ESNZ International Horse of the Year) was popular at the Paralympics in Paris, and likely to have his own Instagram soon.