Current New Zealand Three-day Event champions, Carys McCrory and her 15 year old thoroughbred Nemesis win the CCI4*-S at the Treadlite NZ Taupō Horse Trials. Fiber Fresh NEC Taupō. 20-21 September 2025. Copyright photo Take the Moment.

Over two hundred horses from throughout the North Island attended the first major horse trials event of the spring season at the Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre at Aratiatia, Taupo, over the weekend of 20th-21st September.

Six levels of competition at the Treadlite NZ Spring Horse Trials gave every opportunity for inexperienced as well as seasoned eventers to start the new season over cross-country courses designed to encourage confidence as well as challenge ability.

The top class, a CCI4*-S, was won by current New Zealand Three-day Event champions, Carys McCrory and her 15 year old thoroughbred Nemesis, from Hawkes Bay, with former local Charlotte Penny second on her purpose bred grey Carousel.

Less than a point separated them after the dressage, but they were 10 points behind the leader, Christen Lane on Bellhaven Cumbria. Christen had a showjumping rail down but still held the overnight lead. Charlotte jumped clear while Carys had a rail down, which opened up their scores a little.

However Christen retired Bellhaven Cumbria after encountering problems on Sunday’s cross-country, while both Carys and Charlotte jumped clear rounds, separated by the time faults they incurred. Nemesis was faster, with 13.2 time penalties to Carousel’s 22, resulting in a win for the OTT thoroughbred, produced by Carys.

The current New Zealand Young Rider champion, Mckenzie Marlo, from Auckland, was a distant third on DSE Presley, stepping up to top level, which will have boosted her confidence.

The CCI3*-S, also run under FEI rules, was an all the way win for Madison Seivwright and Waitangi Pinterest, a former New Zealand Three-day Event champion returning after a stint overseas. Kate Fleming on Lumiere VWNZ and Beth Jordan on Cash Xtreme were a distant second and third, separated by less than a point.

– Virginia Caro