Hollywood Park Equine

"Vvivant equi" Dressage Bay of Plenty championships, what a cool show! A massive thank you to the organisers, sponsors, judges, TDs, writers, and all the volunteers who keep the wheels (and hooves) turning at these events. This simply wouldn’t happen without you 🙏🏻 Also a Special thanks to Equissage for receiving the “ sportsmanship and harmony award “

A special shoutout to my incredible sponsors for their continued support — you make it all possible, and I’m so grateful for everything you do behind the scenes.

Oakridge Equestrian, Saddle & Canter, The Equine Herb Company, Platinum Performance NZ, County Saddlery New Zealand, and Equissage Therapy New Zealand.

To my gorgeous fiancee for keeping the team running at home, "G" my bestie for always being beside me, I also need to thank Christine Weal, Zoie Gray, and Samantha Belsham for helping me capture the rogue runaway child (three times) and load him on the truck. Those Dustan nuts were a game-changer 😉

HPE Barbados won 3/3, taking the small tour championship. Barney is such a kind soul and tries extremely hard; I adore him 🧸

HPE Connect 4 won 2/3 and a placing. This was her second time away from home; she’s brave, young, and very weak, but gave all she could 🖤, winning the Level 4 championship. Bless her.

Lastly, thanks to David McKinnon for your continuous guidance and eyes with my team; we appreciate all you do ⭐️.

It’s been all go here at HPE and what a cool project it’s been so far, I can’t thank the team at Gemco enough, professional, fast paced and to the highest standard, nothing is ever a problem for Gemco!!

Stage 3 👊🏻

Fun end to the week, thanks dressage Rotorua for a well run show, to the major sponsor The Equine Herb Company ( Kelly Diack) Judges, writers and everyone that makes these days possible 🙌🏻

HPE Connect 4 stepped up to level four, some “hairy” moments, but her bravery and willingness to please makes me smile, scoring a 68.67% .

HPE Barbados doing his first PSG and scoring a 72.79% he tried and gave me a great feeling, always lots to improve on tho!

To my coach David McKinnon I appreciate you’re eyes and support, Darren Diack for looking after our team at home and your endless support ❤️ Taylar for making the ponies sparkle ✨

To my sponsors you rock 🤘

County Saddlery New Zealand
Oakridge Equestrian
Saddle & Canter
Platinum Performance NZ
The Equine Herb company

HPE has some exciting news!! We have recently purchased a property in Havelock North, Hawkes Bay

We will be relocating Hollywood Park Equine at the beginning of June and therefore we will be looking to employ a new Groom/Barn manager to be based at our Havelock North barn full time.

The position at HPE offers a competitive salary, on-site separate accomodation and the opportunity to bring your own horse - package is negotiable for the right applicant

HPE maintains a positive, hardworking and respectful work environment.

Duties include but not limited to:

Day to day care of the horses
Mucking out stables and paddocks
Tacking up
Feeding
Paddock maintenance
Clipping/plaiting/turnout
Grooming at shows
Managing the horses farrier/dentist
Painting/ spraying
lawns / hedges
Fixing gates/water troughs/Fencing

Please be aware this role is only 65% horse related, the rest is maintenance, errands and everything in between. You must be fun, honest and hardworking, as the days can at times be long and varied and you must be able to work sole charge.

Please send interest to -
[email protected]

Returning from Defender Horse of the Year 2025 late afternoon yesterday, there was some time to reflect. It’s often said that dressage can be an isolating sport, but when one of us is slightly broken or whether we are celebrating a win, disappointment, a PB, a learning, or having a challenging time, our equine community is awesome, caring, and resilient.

The night before we were leaving for HOY, I had a fall off a young one. Whether it was determination or stupidity, I thought I could ride; however, that wasn’t the case. The support, care, pills, lotions, ice packs, sound advice, messages from far and wide from friends, colleagues, stewards, judges, and even strangers I received left me with a huge amount of gratitude. We have such a great group of people in our sport.

To all my students, whether you had the ride of your life, felt disappointed, or had challenges, you were there riding because you love your ponies and our sport. I’m proud to be walking beside you 🙌🏻.

Charlotte Thomas, you are going to be missed more than you know. Thanks for everything this week.

To my sponsors, thank you for your continuous support of the Hollywood Park Equine team🙏🏻:

➡️County Saddlery New Zealand
➡️Prydes EasiFeed NZ
➡️Platinum Bloodstock
➡️Oakridge Equestrian
➡️Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre
➡️The Equine Herb Company

It is with a tear in my eye that Hollywood Park Equine will be looking for a new Groom/barn manager, as Charlie is going home to Christchurch in the near future. Charlie has been an integral part of HPE and she’ll be missed by many.

The position here at HPE is a paid full time role, on-site accomodation is provided, and the opportunity to bring one horse.

We are a small barn, based just north of Hamilton. We aim to maintain a positive, hardworking and respectful work environment.

Duties include but not limited to:

Day to day care of the horses
Mucking out stables and paddocks
Tacking up
Feeding
Paddock maintenance
Clipping/plaiting/turnout
Grooming at shows
Managing the horses farrier/dentist
Painting/ spraying
lawns / hedges
Fixing gates/water troughs/Fencing

Please be aware this role is only 65% horse related, the rest is maintenance, errands and everything in between. You must be fun, honest and hardworking, as the days are long and varied and you also must be able to work sole charge.

Please send interest to -

Holly at [email protected] or Charlie at [email protected] alternatively you can PM Charlotte Thomas ( Charlie) on Facebook.

When Emma approached me about been part of the Harrier team, I was like hell yeahhh! These luxury products are made here in New Zealand, actually in Cambridge my back doorstep.

They are handmade from NZ source materials, the quality is next level 👌🏻 check them out, you’ll fall in love .

Bates NZ Dressage championships; great show, great people, great performances, and a great way to complete the season!

I’ll try and keep this brief! First thank you is to Charlie ( Charlotte Thomas) you are just fabulous! Your management of our team, management while I’m away, management of my life 🥴 all while successfully producing your own young horse and nothing is ever a problem. Thank you 🙏🏻

Continuing the “Thanks” Judges, TD, writers, volunteers, runners, administrators: you guys rock!

Sponsors, we know this couldn’t happen without your support, David from Bates - huge appreciation for your longstanding commitment to our sport.

Reni Heart from River Park Farms this also extends to you, thank you my friend for your endless support in the young horse classes.

My personal sponsors, thank you for your guidance, support in the highs and lows and also to Jake Barham who makes sure the team have a good set of wheels at all times , lastly my besties G and JD for always showing up.

* Beyond the bit
* County saddles
* Oakridge Equestrian
* Platinum performance
* Pryde’s easi feeds
* Waikato Equine hospital
* Harrier NZ

I was inspired by my students, friends and colleagues out there this weekend 🙌🏻👊🏻

Barney bear: I adore you! Four tests for a 78% , 77% 73% and 70% becoming the National 6yo Champion and National Reserve Champion level 4 . 🤎🧸

Bring on winter training 👊🏻

We just received this from QUADDOCK NZ, if you are like us and use boots/bell boots when it’s wet or all year round this is an excellent barn accessory!! Thank you QUADDOCKNZ 🥰