Darryll MacDougall Eventing & Coaching

09/09/2026

MORNING MUSINGS FROM ME 💭

I’ve watched equestrian sport chew people up and spit them out for years.

There is a mountain of challenges - training horses, the ever-rising costs, hard falls, time, physical demands and the sheer commitment it takes to keep showing up. Staying in the sport is the hardest it has ever been.

But the worst? Negativity. And it spreads like wildfire.

Criticism, gatekeeping and judgement have all become part of the culture. A comment becomes a pile-on. Someone’s lack of knowledge becomes an opportunity to make them feel small.

And slowly, people who once loved the sport start to feel like they don’t belong.

It happens to beginners, young riders, coaches and experienced riders alike - at clubs, at shows and online.

And we lose good people because of it.

But if negativity can spread, so can kindness. So can encouragement. So can knowledge shared generously. We all started somewhere. We all had questions. We all had things we didn’t know.

So perhaps being a champion isn’t always about being at the top of the scoreboard. Maybe it’s about how many people you help become better, more confident and more capable along the way.

Lift people up. Share what you know. Encourage more than you criticise. Be the person who makes someone want to stay.

That’s the culture worth creating in our sport.

Auckland Saddle Fit - Tailored Saddle Fitting with Christine Peart
Rachael's Animal Homeopathy
Horselands
Active Equine

02/09/2026

BODY PROTECTORS: The Komperdell

Lots of chat about body protectors as of late, so here’s my unsolicited two cents!

25 years of eventing has seen me in my fair share - All were either too long or too short and restricted my movement and breathing.

The Komperdell wins by a country mile.

I’m not going to bore you with the specs from the website or some drawn out review. This is me wearing mine 20 weeks pregnant, the same one that fit me pre-babies and also postpartum. Here I’m wearing it with an airvest over the top, and I’m breathing and smiling. That’s all!

If you’re in the market for a new body protector, go and try one at Horselands, you wont regret it!

📸 Violet Creations

31/08/2026

TRUCKIE NEEDS A HOME 🚛

1992 Hino 3-Horse Truck

Location: Waimauku, Auckland

Cute, practical 3-horse truck, owned by us for 16 years. Only being sold as we have downsized to one horse and no longer require the capacity. This is a genuinely reliable little truck with a versatile setup, ideal for competitive riders and families travelling to away shows.

Reg and Cof (expires in Feb 27)

Horse Area:

3-horse (2 large horse spaces and one pony)
Stallion guards between each bay
Approx. 730mm per bay
Rear PVC roll-down curtain
Half-door between horse area and living
Exterior tack locker with bridle hooks

Living Accommodation:

Good-sized living area
Double bed in Luton
Large bench seats with excellent storage underneath
Wardrobe and additional storage
Solar powered
Caravan plug with cord
Gas hot water
Gas oven, grill and 4-hob cooktop
Fridge powered by house battery
Crawl through to cab

Truck Specifications:

401,000 km
6-litre diesel engine
5-speed manual
Gross weight: 9,990kg
Tare: 5,840kg
8.25 R16 tyres
Length: 7.34m
Height from ground: 3.3m
Interior floor-to-roof height: 2.21m
Interior width: 1.83m

Other:

H2 licence required
Registered as a motorhome

A well-loved truck with a proven history and a great combination of horse space and living accommodation.

Phone/text: Jayne 0211323427

$37k ono

26/08/2026

Proud to be team Horselands this season, alongside some pretty cool local riders 💚

Next up... we welcome Darryll MacDougall to the Horselands 2026/2027 Sponsorship team!

Darryll is a Waimauku-based eventing rider, trainer and coach with a holistic approach to developing both horses and riders. With 10+ years’ coaching experience across Pony Club, Area Development Squads and private clients, including Head Coach roles at Massey and Waimauku Pony Club, she is passionate about building confident, capable partnerships and giving both horse and rider the foundations to progress.

Her current main competition partner is Weiti Gravity, aka “Gosh”, an 8-year-old Warmblood x Stationbred whom Darryll has owned and developed since he was two. A quirky, kind and naturally slower maturer, Gosh has enjoyed wins and placings at the lower levels as a youngster. After a season away from the Horse Trial circuit following the birth of Darryll’s second baby, Zella, in April, they’re looking forward to returning this season. Now more mature and stronger, their focus is on rebuilding and then progressing confidently through the levels together.

“I’m really looking forward to working with Horselands this season. They’ve always been my go-to for local supplies, particularly those inevitable last-minute ‘we’re leaving for a show tomorrow and I’ve forgotten something!’ trips. The team are always incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating, and their range is second to none. We’re very lucky to have such a well-stocked, professional store right on our doorstep!”

15/08/2026

Thrilled to welcome Rachael's Animal Homeopathy to my sponsorship team for the 2026/27 season! 🤎

Homeopathy can be used alongside a horse’s usual veterinary and management programme, with individualised remedies aimed at supporting overall wellbeing, recovery, resilience and the body’s natural ability to cope with physical and emotional stress. For performance horses, this can be particularly valuable when managing the demands of training, travel, competition and recovery.

I first experienced the benefits of homeopathy for horses when Rip picked up a nasty fence injury last winter. Alongside his veterinary care, we incorporated homeopathic remedies into his recovery, and I was really impressed with how well he healed!

Partnering with Rachael felt like a natural fit, and I’m really looking forward to having her knowledge and support behind me this season 🫶🏼

26/07/2026

Forecast: 100% chance of perfect circles ☔️ 💃🏽

*Assistant coach’s enthusiasm may vary

Auckland Saddle Fit - Tailored Saddle Fitting with Christine Peart
Active Equine

25/07/2026

WANTED TO BUY 🐴

Seeking a first hack for a kind, established teenage rider who's keen to have a crack at a bit of everything this season.

The wishlist:
✔️ Gelding
✔️ 6+ years old
✔️ 15.3hh–16.2hh
✔️ All breeds considered
✔️ Loads and travels happily on a straight loader
✔️ Sound, sensible, and knows the basics without needing an instruction manual

We're not chasing the next Olympic superstar. If he's honest, ready to get out and about, and enjoys his job, we'd love to hear about him!

Reasonable budget for the right match.

5* forever home awaits!

06/06/2026

It’s been a quieter season for me performance wise with the arrival of our second precious little one, Zella, in April. So it was incredibly special to receive the Ambassador for Equestrian Sport Award at Massey Pony Club today 🥹 The award celebrates my HC role within the club, one I was proud to continue throughout my pregnancy.

A timely reminder for myself that motherhood doesn’t put your passions on hold, it just gives you a tiny new teammate!

Auckland Saddle Fit - Tailored Saddle Fitting with Christine Peart
Active Equine

09/12/2025

1x 65cm and 1x 80cm space left for XC training at the lovely Huapai Pony Club this Saturday! 🚀

Join me at Huapai Pony Club on Saturday the 13th of December to get in one last XC training before the Christmas break!

50cm (SJ and XC) 65cm, 80cm and 95cm groups.

$80 per rider including the club ground fee.

Limited spaces available, get in touch if you would like to take one!

05/12/2025

Rip (unsurprisingly) sold to the first rider to come and meet him and is already settling into his new digs - Lucky boy! 💕