BY SALLY REID
PHOTOGRAPHY: PRIVATE COLLECTION; PETER LLEWELLYN; FEI/LEANJO DE KOSTER
The New Zealand 2026-2027 competition season is in full swing, with new young champions emerging (more about them in a later issue). However, last season’s stars have not been forgotten and three horses were recently honoured by the NZ Warmblood Association for their work during 2025-26.
The NZWA’s Horses of Distinction awards are given to registered NZ Warmbloods in recognition of excellence at national and international level in jumping, eventing and dressage. This year more than 60 horses met the qualifying criteria, with breeders ranging from specialist studs to hobby hopefuls. Each receives a special plaque, and if comments on social media are anything to go by, these are very greatly appreciated. There is a trophy and cash prize for each of the three winners.
Nominees are drawn from top place-getters at targeted competitions of all levels, including national series. NZWA President Jody Hartstone summarises the ethos behind the honours: “The Horse of Distinction awards celebrate performance, but at their heart they are about recognising the breeders behind the horses - the people whose knowledge, decisions and vision produced the athletes we now see succeeding, from grassroots competition right through to international sport.
Dressage award from 24 nominees
Donero RH (Donnerubin DC - Donnervogel x Dream Boy) 13-year-old gelding. Breeder: Victoria Fawcett, Rosehill Sporthorses
“A fantastic representation of the quality and depth of dressage horses being bred right here in New Zealand,” says NZWA President Jody Hartstone, of the 24 nominees in this category.
The winner, Donero RH, was bred by Victoria Fawcett who describes her Rosehill Sporthorses as ‘boutique’, and breeds just a few horses each season. Donero RH’s dam Donnervogel was one of its two foundation mares.
She died in 2022, but was with Victoria for a decade and produced several very nice offspring. Her sire was the influential Hanoverian Dream Boy (Dream of Glory), bred by Gustav Eylmann and imported from Germany in 1999. Her dam was a full Thoroughbred, Monier Bay xx (Clay Hero xx).
Donero RH is owned and ridden by Samantha Belsham of Auckland. The pair had a successful international season, representing New Zealand on both sides of the Tasman in CDI Young Rider competitions. They showed particular strength in their Freestyle work, but their talents extend beyond the dressage arena: Donero RH also received a nomination for the 2026 NZWA Eventing Horse of Distinction. “To be recognised amongst our top-performing New Zealand-bred horses in two Olympic disciplines in the same year is quite an achievement and a wonderful testament to this horse’s versatility,” says Jody Hartstone.
Donero’s breeder Victoria Fawcett says on social media, “I couldn’t be prouder. ‘Nero’ was special right from the start – one of the very, very few geldings I considered hanging on to for myself. In hindsight I'm really glad I didn’t, as he’s had such a wonderful journey to this point. I just love seeing my babies out in the world doing what they were made to do.”...
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