Equestrian Sports NZ

𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗟𝗘𝗦 | 𝗡𝗭𝗘𝗛𝗔 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲
Good news and awesome effort by all concerned:

It is positive to share that the number of Strangles affected properties has dropped from 13 to 9 since August 5th.

This means that the disease has been contained within those properties and testing has found no new infection over several weeks. Thorough biosecurity measures from those involved have achieved this result, and we look forward to seeing a continued decrease in affected properties.

For a detailed update and resources on Strangles, and how you can keep your horses safe visit our website using the link below⬇
https://www.nzeha.org.nz/strangles

𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟𝗦 | 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀
We’re just three weeks away from the Interschools, when some of our favourite equestrians will join us as Ambassadors. Our three Eventing Ambassadors bring a great mix of experience across competition, coaching, training and supporting the next generation of riders. Who do you know?
NORTH ISLAND – TAUPŌ
𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘆 is a 4* event rider and HPNZ Talent Development Squad member who runs a team of eventers in Taupō, from young horses through to 4*. A career highlight has been representing New Zealand on both the Senior and Young Rider Oceania Teams at Adelaide 2026. Bridie loves helping riders build confident partnerships with their horses and achieve their goals. Her advice? Put your horse first, don't be afraid to ask questions and, most importantly, have fun.
𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗿 is a full-time event rider and coach who has worked for some of the biggest names in Eventing, including Sir Mark Todd and Laura Collett MBE. She loves producing horses through the levels and helping riders realise their potential. Her advice is simple: have fun, be organised and remember that preparation can help calm those competition nerves.
𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 is a 23-year-old event rider and coach who has worked for legendary New Zealand event rider Andrew Nicholson in England. She has competed successfully through the levels and is passionate about producing Thoroughbreds. Holly loves helping young riders celebrate the small wins and will be a friendly face in the warm-up ring for anyone who needs a helping hand.
The Taupō Equestrian Supplies North Island Secondary Schools Equestrian Cup and the South Island Secondary Schools Equestrian Cup runs from 30 Aug-3/4 Sept. We’ll be giving you updates across the week on ESNZ Community . See our webpage for more: https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/youth-programmes/.

ESNZ Eventing
New Zealand Pony Clubs

𝗙𝗘𝗜 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣𝗦 | 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿

Wendi Williamson and Don Vito MH may not have produced the result they had hoped for in their Grand Prix test at the 2026 FEI World Championships but still executed some beautiful work.
New Zealand’s only dressage representatives at the champs were sadly eliminated after it was discovered during their post-test vet inspection that the horse had slightly bitten his lip.
Wendi was hugely disappointed, and particularly for her support crew and those who had supported her. “There are always things that can happen but this is something so uncharacteristic for Junior,” she said.
They had scored 64.953% but were later eliminated after the blood discovery.
Wendi said the horse had been feeling “so good” in training and had warmed up well but there had been a lot for him to look at in the huge arena.
While Wendi felt the test hadn’t shown just where they were at, their extended trot and flying changes had been beautifully executed.
“It is pretty upsetting,” she said. “This is the second time this has happened to me at a major show – it has never happened before anywhere else, so it is really disappointing and upsetting.”
She extended a huge thank you to all who had supported her and Junior for their championships campaign.

📸 Libby Law Photography

Dressage NZ
Team Williamson at Waitekauri Farm

𝗙𝗘𝗜 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣𝗦 | 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

It’s crazy to think that someone innocently patting your horse, could cost you a medal . . . but that’s exactly where things now lie.
The increase in convenience for humans heightens the possibility of inadvertently transmitting something that could lead to a positive equine drug test.
Making sure the Kiwis are well protected at the 2026 FEI World Championships is eventing team vet Christiana Ober (pictured). She’s no stranger to championship and top events with the New Zealand team.
Before the horses and riders even get to Champs, the due diligence has been done. That includes making sure every topical product used on each horse is in line with FEI clean sport rules.
Pre-arrival testing is also done, with bloods and urine samples taken and tested to ensure feed sources and supplements are free of contamination.
“We look at any possible source of inadvertent contamination, either from feed and supplements, or contact from humans,” she says.
“More and more topical preparations are far more convenient for humans . . . if you think of patches and topical gels like Voltaren or testosterone.”
The issue is highlighted with grooms and owners, particularly as there has been positive drug results in horses from other countries from human contact.
“We all need to be very vigilant in the stables,” says Christiana. “Things like making sure outsiders are not walking through touching the horses. It’s not about being difficult, but about managing the situation. It’s about ensuring we avoid any inadvertent positive doping tests at a championship . . . imagine if it cost us a medal.”

📸 Diana Dobson




ESNZ Eventing

𝗙𝗘𝗜 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣𝗦 | 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗭𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁

Grace Harris feels she’s looking after an A-list celebrity when hanging with Monica Spencer’s horse Artist at events.
The off-the-track NZ bred Thoroughbred has star status in the States. “They are obsessed with him,” says 26-year-old Grace. “They just love that he is a Thoroughbred and racing is so big in Kentucky – he is famous.”
She’s a freelance groom based in the bluegrass state who comes when she is called to help Monica. “I just do shows with Monica, not the day-to-day running of her operation.”
In her ‘down time’ she manages US eventer Liz Halliday’s barn – a job that is getting increasingly busier as Liz gets back into her riding. “It was just meant to be a short term thing with Liz but I’m still there,” says Grace who is originally from Auckland.
She clearly adores Artist – or Max as he’s known to his mates. “He is delightful. He is so easy to work with. He does worry a bit and likes ‘his’ people. I feel a bit like his emotional support person sometimes. He tends to internalise his nerves so everything has to be very Zen around him.”
Grace has been with Monica for about a year and says they’ve got a great working relationship. “We get on really well and think the same so it is easy to do what is needed,” she says.
She started grooming in the UK in 2020 and has previously worked for Piggy March and Aussie-born US Olympian, eventer Phillip Dutten.
The 2026 Worlds are Grace’s first championships. “It is pretty cool. It is nice to be in team New Zealand here.”
She’s previously been to Aachen. It was here she reconnected with Monica while working for Phillip. “Then we caught up in the States and she found out I was freelancing so just booked me out.”
Unsurprisingly, it is the horses that Grace loves most about her job. “It is cool to see them do stuff like this.”
For now her full focus is on Artist and making sure everything is just perfect for the popular Thoroughbred so he and Monica can go out and do what they need to.
“He is a good egg,” she says of her equine charge.

📸 Diana Dobson

ESNZ Eventing
Monica Spencer Eventing

𝗙𝗘𝗜 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣𝗦 | 𝗔𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗞𝗶𝘄𝗶

Marcus Bean may carry a British passport but he is proudly an honorary Kiwi.
He’s at the 2026 FEI World Championships with Clarke Johnstone and Rocket Man. It’s his fifth season grooming for Clarke, a time that has included the Paris Olympic Games, Pratoni World Champs and now the 2026 Champs, and he’s stoked it’s being held at his all-time favourite venue.
“This really is the top of the top . . . I think it is better than the Olympic Games.”
Rocket Man is also a little partial to competing at Aachen. “I feel Aachen just gives him that extra spark. He is beautiful and quite funny too because he’ll be very lethargic until he’s not and he’s seen a bird in a tree four miles away.”
Marcus is grateful Rocket Man is a “very clean grey” who doesn’t require hours of work to keep him looking s**c and span.
He started grooming at 18 and was a hunt groom when he “just randomly” applied for a job with a Swedish eventer.
“I love the travelling that comes with my job,” says 26-year-old Marcus who is based in Gloucestershire with Clarke.
That travel included four weeks in New Zealand when he first took the job. “I loved it!”
“Being named in the team is really good but the best part is when everything just comes together. You don’t really stop stressing until you get here. It’s awesome too that we are a very tight knit team and all work together – that makes a lot of difference.”

📸 Diana Dobson

“Being named in the team is really good but the best part is when everything just comes together. You don’t really stop stressing until you get here. It’s awesome too that we are a very tight-knit team and all work together – that makes a lot of difference.”




ESNZ Eventing

𝗙𝗘𝗜 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣𝗦 | 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗗𝗮𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗻
It’s no surprise to Barrie Trotter that his daughter will today ride down the centre line at the 2026 FEI World Championships, proudly wearing the silver fern. It’s not the first time Wendi Williamson has represented New Zealand, but it is one of the biggest.
“I am so proud of her,” says Barrie, “but I have seen it (that determination) from the age of three or four years old.”
He says the family weren’t horsey “by nature” but his job as a teacher took them into rural New Zealand where ponies just seem to come with the territory. “Wendi always had a fascination with horses from a very early age.”
He remembers seeing Wendi and her sister Megan ‘riding’ a big old tree stump and having a ball. That was followed by a local kindly lending them a horse who unfortunately was “too big and cunning” for the girls, so promptly went back.
But none of that deterred Wendi and her love of horses. Barrie credits fellow teacher Maureen Drylie, a former dressage rider, coach and judge who he says laid the foundations for Wendi’s very successful riding career.
Her riding has taken Barrie and his late wife Sue to Omaha to watch her ride in the FEI World Cup Final, numerous times to the Sydney CDI and around New Zealand to other events.
“I wasn’t going to miss this,” he says. “It is just tremendous to be here. I used to feel more nervous watching her ride, but not so much now because I feel so confident she has total control.”
Wendi is not the only one in the Trotter family to represent New Zealand – Barrie’s granddaughter Sylvia Trotter skied for Aotearoa at the Winter Olympics.

📸 Libby Law Photography

Dressage NZ
Team Williamson at Waitekauri Farm

𝗘𝗦𝗡𝗭 𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗙𝗜𝗧𝗦 | 𝗙𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 & 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲
10 Aug 2026 to 16 Aug 2026: We're looking forward to the FEI World Cup at Aachen from tonight NZ time (11 August). So it's a great time to set yourself up to watch the action at 20% discount with ESNZ's Official Media Partner, Clip My Horse TV. Follow the link to our member benefits page for the details at 𝗵𝘁𝘁𝗽𝘀://𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗻𝘇𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻.𝗼𝗿𝗴.𝗻𝘇/𝗲𝘀𝗻𝘇/𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿-𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀/.
ESNZ members discounts up to 25% off at 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗧𝘆𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀, discounted travel deals on the 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿, and 𝗜𝗥𝗧 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 our Official Horse Welfare Partner and preferred transporter of our equines travelling internationally has regular 90-minute flights between Auckland and Christchurch.
Fuel prices are down around 10-15c per litre this week - national pricing for the week means you'll get the same price throughout the country at BP locations (last week in brackets):
Diesel - $2.48 ($2.62) per litre
91 - $2.85 ($3.00) per litre
95 - $3.00 (3.15) per litre
98 - $3.08 ($3.23) per litre
and at RD Petroleum locations
Diesel - $2.44 ($2.61) per litre
91 - $2.86 ($3.04) per litre
95 - $2.98 ($3.15) per litre

ClipMyHorse.TV Great Britain
RD Petroleum Ltd
IRT
Carter's Tyre Service
Interislander
Dressage NZ
ESNZ Eventing
ESNZ Jumping & Show Hunter
ESNZ Endurance
ESNZ Para-Equestrian

𝗙𝗘𝗜 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣𝗦 | 𝗢𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆
Helen Christie likens Aachen to that one thing at the very top of your bucket list.
“It’s that once in a lifetime experience that you need to do,” she says.
She’s visited Aachen numerous times and is here this week for her fourth FEI World Championships as an eventing steward. Pinnacle events are her thing, with seven Olympic Games also on her CV, along with a raft of other internationals. This year alone she’s been stewarding in South America, Japan and Ireland – among others.
It’s a passion this Southland grannie loves to pursue. “I feel pretty flippin’ lucky, that’s for sure,” she says. “Being here in Aachen is something you can’t describe . . . I feel it is like being let loose in a lolly shop! It is the very best of everything.”
As much as it is about the events and venues, Helen says the people are also very special. “The team I work with here is very multi-national and have worked at all the top events.”
Her job at the 2026 Champs entails monitoring the horses in warm-ups, schooling and practicing. “It’s the entire time they are not on the field of play really,” she says. “It’s great because I get to spend time with horses, athletes and grooms.”
When we caught up with her, Helen had just spent four hours on grazing – “seeing some of the best horses in the world” – before moving to the practice arena.
But there is one part of her job that poses a huge challenge for this very proud Kiwi. “I have to be neutral here, and that can be pretty tough!”
She says it with a wicked laugh and a twinkle in her eye before she’s off to catch up with another rider she knows from an earlier championship. The days are busy and long, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

📸 Diana Dobson

ESNZ Eventing

Ever wondered what the Interschools are about? Another great interview from The Rural Roundup as host Erin Speedy talks to our GM Community and Competition Jo Colin about the upcoming events. Taupo Equestrian Supplies North Island Secondary Schools Equestrian Cup and the South Island Secondary Schools Equestrian Cup run from 30 August-3/4 Sept at the Taupō and Chch NECs. Enjoy! (7 mins long). https://open.spotify.com/episode/1dsjQ6fl824gry65VrqURN?si=KLezhZvbSBCBjFQ2yiO2Sg

Dressage NZ
ESNZ Eventing
ESNZ Jumping & Show Hunter
ESNZ Endurance
ESNZ Para-Equestrian
New Zealand Pony Clubs
NZ Mounted Games Association
Dunstan Horsefeeds NEC - Christchurch
Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre Taupo

Jo Colin | ESNZ (Equestrian Sports NZ) General Manager Community & Competition by The Rural Roundup