The equestrian community is full of the most amazing people and their horses, and everyone has an inspiring story to tell. Here are some of the stories equestrians have shared with us, as featured in our “Fab Friday” series. Enjoy!
The James’ are Keeping Endurance in the Family (5/2/26)
It’s always inspiring to see families grouping together to follow their love of equestrian sports. But it’s not often that we come across seven members of one family competing against each other! And that’s exactly what the James family did when they hauled their horses from Dunedin to the Wairarapapa to take part in the North Island Endurance & CTR Champs recently. https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2026/02/an-enduring-passion-for-this-kiwi-family/
Kristin School Sneaks in Some Practice Before Interschools (22/8/25) It’s great when your school’s Sports Manager is a horse rider. Better still if she grazes on a 230 acre farm. Keen to sneak in some pre-Interschools practice, Kristin Sports Manager Jodie Sutherland took her team out riding together having fun and building team spirit prior to heading to Taupō this weekend. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1H3kcQrDMX/
Lights, Cameras, and a Look Behind the Action on “Young Riders” (8/11/24) Jumping is in the spotlight again as series 5 of “Young Riders” goes into production. But how much do we now about what goes on behind the scenes? ESNZ caught up with Producer Kate Peacocke to find out. https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2024/11/lights-cameras-and-a-look-behind-the-action-on-young-riders
Mackenzie Marlo likes to Pay it Forward (23/2/24) Movie over ‘Swifties’! we’ve found a young local rider who is reaching for the weed-eater, and not the pink lipstick. Mackenzie Marlo is hard at work behind the scenes at some of our top events, and says that ‘paying it forward’ makes better competitions for everyone. https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2024/02/mackenzie-marlo-likes-to-pay-it-forward
Meg Johnston now sits at the National Dressage Table (15/9/23) She may only be 18-years-old, but Meg Johnston has already made quite an impact as an ambassador among younger riders throughout the country. Now she’s Dressage New Zealand’s first Youth committee member. https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2023/09/game-changer-meg-now-sits-at-the-national-dressage-table
Multi-tasking Stewards Embark on FEI Para Certification Journey (26/1/24) A shortage of FEI para-equestrian stewards – just one in NZ – has led a dedicated twosome to putting their horses on hold and planning a trip to Belgium to chase the qualification. Karen Shields and Bob Smith discuss their complex roles as ESNZ National stewards and the exciting time ahead, as they celebrate 10 years volunteering for the Auckland Manukau Dressage Group. https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2024/01/multi-tasking-stewards-embark-on-fei-para-certification-journey
New South Island Series Hits the Spot (1/11/24) A four year struggle with a mare that was “unpredictable” has paid off for 17-year-old Amy Brenssell, at a new jumping category introduced into the South Island this season. For Amy, it was the perfect opportunity to put to the test the hours of training she had undertaken with her cross-bred mare, Kiwi Tune. And she came out smiling as she rode out of Ring 1 with a clear round, and went on to win the class held in Otago two weeks ago. https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2024/11/new-south-island-category-hits-the-spot
Nimon Trust Enables Ben to Connect with Riding Royalty (10/11/23) Ben Weir has three new friends: Swedish Olympic gold medalist Peder Fredricson and fellow Olympian Peter Eriksson, and British Olympic gold medalist Carl Hester. They met Ben when he spent a whirlwind two months in Europe as a recipient of the Nimon Trust for young showjumpers earlier this year. https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2023/11/nimon-trust-enables-ben-to-connect-with-riding-royalty
OBE for Professor Natalie Waran (20/6/25) We are delighted that Professor Natalie Waran has recently been awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to equine welfare, research and education. This well-deserved recognition comes after Nat has worked for decades across continents and organisations, and continues to do so from her home base in Hawke’s Bay. https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2025/06/nat-receives-obe-in-recognition-of-equine-welfare
One of NZ’s First FEI Vets Qualifies as a Level 4 Official (2/2/24) He’s the first New Zealander to qualify as a Level 4 FEI official vet, and now he’s off to Turkey to the FEI National Head Vets Conference. The medical maestro who retired from his day job in 2020 has no plans of slowing down. We celebrate Tony Parson’s success and learn more about his journey. https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2024/02/one-of-nzs-first-fei-vets-qualifies-as-a-level-4-official
Para Pal Shares her “Lamborghini” (29/9/23) What do you do when there are two riders and only one horse? Anne Watts and Nicola Essex-Wills faced this challenge just weeks out from a Para-Equestrian FEI competition in Melbourne, with nothing for Nicola to ride. So, Anne told her friend to “jump on JJ” and now they’re both on their way to Melbourne to compete in the 2* and 3* respectively on Joseph’s Dream (aka the “Lamborghini”). https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2023/09/para-pal-shares-her-lamborghini
Rangihou says Beach Arena Paves her Way (31/1/25) Practicing on the beach at her home in Hicks Bay, teen Rangihou McClutchie was the first youngster from her whānau community to contribute to her elite school’s success. Her dedication gave a team from Nga Tawa Diocesan a hidden advantage when they won their Inter-School Championship grade in China late last year. https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2025/01/schooling-on-the-beach-helps-nga-tawa-win-in-china
Rania gets the Grand Prix Recipe Right (supplied) (11/8/23) Rania Todd knew the quality of the horses she was breeding was high; she says there was no way she could have forecast the level of success her ‘babies’ would reach on the global stage. Now grown up, Windermere J’Obei W and Jax Johnson bring such joy to followers of Grand Prix dressage on the local, and now international, circuit. https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2023/08/rania-gets-the-grand-prix-recipe-right
Sophia is Left Speechless by Legacy Gift (14/2/25) Two surprises this week have taken Sophia Stratford beyond her wildest dreams. After being placed in two categories at the Society of Master Saddlers National Saddlery Competition in the UK, an act of generosity back home has left the saddlemaker-in-training “pretty much speechless”. https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2025/02/a-legacy-gift-tops-off-a-perfect-week-for-trainee-saddlemaker-sophia
Stuart Buntine – Designing Safer Eventing Courses (14/11/25) Eventing is one of the most popular equestrian disciplines in New Zealand. Yet it is also considered one of the most high-risk, but Australian cross-country designer Stuart Buntine is doing his best to change that, supported by the Georgie Campbell Foundation: https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2025/11/designing-safer-courses-for-eventing/
Trampolining and Eventing – a Juggle that’s Paying Off (24/11/23) Campbell Robertson has just returned from the World Champs. But he wasn’t there to compete in equestrian sports. Instead, it was the heady heights of the double-mini trampolining for this 4* Eventing rider from Christchurch. The “multi-tasker” made it to the semi-finals and finished 14th (the second placed Australasian) in a field of 48. Although each sport is very different, he explains that there are similarities. https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2023/11/trampolining-and-eventing-a-juggle-thats-paying-off
Waikato Equestrian Centre Holds Fast to a Long Term Future (29/3/24) At the Waikato Equestrian Centre, GM Kara Lockhart is plugged into a busy calendar she expects will top her record of 43 events last year. The WEC’s lease is up for renewal in 10 years’ time, so Kara is making every effort to show why the 100-plus acre facility needs to remain available to equestrian sports for the long term. https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2024/03/waikato-equestrian-centre-holds-fast-to-a-long-term-future