Warakihi Equine NZ

After a number of years, I got the opportunity to get back on this girl, it’s been a while!! you might recognise her from an earlier post, this is Sann Shella aka Ruby all grown up from the last time I got to ride this beauty in her Futurity year.

Thanks Harold Morrissey for bringing her north for the Trans Tasman Challenge it was fun and I’m glad to get her in the line up 🙌

Photo credit: Holmes Cutting Horse Photography

2026 NZCHA Futurity Show Highest Score Award went to Mindy McCrea & Bar Bees Pl***oy with an impressive 221!

What a weekend at the NZCHA Futurity 🙌
Feeling incredibly lucky and grateful to swing a leg over Ken, aka Barbees Pl***oy.

What an absolute legend of a horse. He was on fire all weekend, laying down a 221 to take out the Open Non-Pro, and topping it off with the highest score of the entire show 🤯🔥

Ken also stepped up as a Trans Tasman Challenge horse, and just to show how special he really is, four different riders climbed aboard and placing well across the 2 go rounds 💪🏼.
Talk about versatility and heart 💪

Coming up 20 years young, Ken is proof that the best just keep getting better. Like fine wine — aged to perfection.

Ken, you are something special 💙

❤️

Huge thank you to Steve Smith of Steve Smith Cutting Horses for making the trip over and sharing your knowledge with us here in NZ.

From running an awesome clinic, to helping throughout the show, and especially taking the time to support us non-pros through our runs — it honestly meant a lot.

Your patience, encouragement, and willingness to answer questions didn’t go unnoticed. Sorry about the downpours Friday but the commitment was strong to get the job done was appreciated.

We’ve all taken away some really valuable skills and tools to keep progressing with our horses, and we’re better for it.

You’re welcome back anytime — we’ll be ready 👏🐎

Congratulations team Australia 🇦🇺

RESULTS ARE IN AND OFFICIAL
LEG 2 - HELD IN NEW ZEALAND

THE HOPPER KNOCKER BULL BARS - TRANS TASMAN CUTTING CHALLENGE 2025

Congratulations Team Australia 🇦🇺

🎄 Merry Christmas from Warakihi Equine NZ 🎄

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re giving a big shout-out to the real MVPs — Cooper, Ken, Scotty and Gordy. The four-legged team who put in the hard yards, keep us laughing, and make every long day worth it.

Thank you to everyone who’s been part of our year. We’re grateful for the support, the miles, and the memories.

Wishing you a safe, happy Christmas and a New Year full of good horses, good cattle and plenty of laughs.

— Warakihi Equine NZ 🤍🐎

🔥 Straight off the plane and into the frying pan! 🔥

We loaded up 4 show horses and trusty turn back horse Ernie and headed to the Pink Cut Show at South Burnett. With the temps sitting at a toasty 35–36°C, we definitely earned our pink ribbons in the sand pit! 💪🌞

It was a great show with some incredible Pink Dress Up costumes — love seeing everyone get into the spirit 💕🐄

I also got the chance to take a turn in the saddle and have a show on a couple of horses — Sweet Laris in the Open 72.5 (just missed 4th by half a point), and Erin Top Drive in the Novice 71.5 Was good to get a feel for how things run in Australia. My run on Erin Top Drive things got a little western after a rein malfunction on the first cow… that moment you look down an realise your missing something was priceless, but we finished the run with just one rein! 😅🤠

Huge thanks to Melanie Jane Photography for the awesome shots from the weekend 📸

Thank you to the Eddie Family for letting me have a ride on their horses, a memory I wont forget anytime soon ❤️