BY SALLY REID
PHOTOS: GINA SCHICK/EVENTSTARS LTD; NZWA; HEATHER GEE TAYLOR; KIERYN WALTON
This tour is a crucial date on the calendar of many New Zealand breeders. It’s also a major undertaking for the NZWA team – and 2026 was even more major than usual. “Man alive, what a mission it was,” says NZWA President Jody Hartstone
“Two full weeks of travelling the length and breadth of New Zealand, from North Auckland to Southland; from boutique breeders to large programs; from first-time presenters to seasoned studs; 14 outstanding days of assessing foals, mares, youngstock and future stars of New Zealand sport horse breeding.
“Early mornings and late finishes; gravel roads and forgotten highways; indoor arenas and paddock assessments; Excellence awards, Merit awards, and some truly exceptional horses. Most importantly, there was passion: breeders investing in the future; families sharing their stories, young riders dreaming big.
“Sometimes, you drive miles into the countryside and start to wonder where on earth you’re heading… winding through valleys, alongside rivers, past rolling hills and gorges - and then you arrive somewhere really special… and you realize exactly why you made the journey.”
Of vital importance to the tour’s success is the work of the international assessor, a job once again undertaken by Matthias Werner of Germany. “Matthias doesn’t just hand out numbers – he explains the biomechanics, the balance, the frame, the swing, the quality of the canter, and how it all fits together in a modern sport horse,” says Hartstone. “It’s clear, constructive and internationally benchmarked – for breeders, that feedback is gold. “We are incredibly lucky to have an assessor of Matthias’ calibre travel all this way to support and strengthen our studbook, and we thank every breeder who opened their gates, presented their horses, and trusted the process.”
Leading Breeder: Wembleybrook Sport Horses
The breeder whose three top progeny achieve the greatest combined score of the tour receives this prestigious award. Wembleybrook Sport Horses, run by Gloriann Mullen, was the winner this year.
The stud’s three top foals were:
• Scarlett Witch WSH (Supra Marvel WSH - Danzar WSH x Dancier) 84.50%
• Carnyx Air WSH (Cornet’s Air - Roma x Royal Diamond) 82.25%
• Supraman WSH (Supra Marvel WSH - Grandview Beez Kneez x Balaton) 80.25%
Wembleybrook Sport Horses has been producing high quality Warmbloods and Connemara ponies since the turn of this century, and is based near the tiny South Island village of Hinds on the Canterbury Plains. “Year after year, Wembleybrook presents beautifully prepared mares, foals and stallions, and consistently comes away with top awards. It’s never accidental. It’s always intentional,” says Jody Hartstone. “With such a huge number of horses inspected on the tour this year, having three from one stud rank among the very top is an outstanding achievement, and a testament to the strength and consistency of their breeding program.”...
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