BY SALLY REID
PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY VICKI WILSON AND CHRISTEN LANE
New Zealand’s National Three-Day Eventing Championships and the NZWA National Young Horse Eventing Championships are run concurrently at the National Equestrian Centre in Taupo, marking the end of the eventing season here
Although it was a Thoroughbred who took the big title (for the second year running), purpose-bred Warm-bloods were dominant in all divisions.
Two stallions are particularly noticeable among the pedigrees of these high achievers: the German-bred Hanoverian Euro Sport Centavos (Escudo I - Anabell x Argentinus), who has excelled beyond expectation in this country, and the marvellous Thoroughbred Volksraad xx (Green Desert xx - Celtic Assembly xx x Secretariat xx), who was bred in Great Britain.
‘Ultimate gentleman’ wins YEH title
The Young Event Horse Championship attracted a field of 22 youngsters, many with impressive pedigrees. Dressage, jumping, short cross-country course, gallop, and a conformation inspection are assessed by four separate judges; the top five horses called back to be judged by the whole panel.
The competition is sponsored by the NZ Warmblood Association and was won, appropriately, by a NZWB: Christopher Robin VWNZ (Carpaccio BDV Z - Quiz Me VWNZ x Euro Sport Centavos).
This very promising gelding was bred by his owner Vicki Wilson and is a half-brother to her young NZWB stallion, Apollo VWNZ (Arlento ST). Interestingly, one of Apollo’s offspring, Authentic VWNZ, was the Champion Eventing Foal of the 2024 NZWA classification tour, with an Excellence mark of 83.25%.
Christopher Robin VWNZ was ridden by Kate Fleming of Judgeford Equestrian, where he has received the latter part of his education. “He is the ultimate gentleman, with huge movement and the most workmanlike attitude to life. He has been a real joy to produce, and I’m sure Kate would say the same,” says Vicki Wilson.
Kate herself says the win was a thrill. “‘Chris’ has the most amazing temperament to match his movement and jump, and I have loved every minute producing him through his firsts this autumn. He is a very exciting five-year-old.”
His sire Carpaccio BDV Z (Clintissimo Z - Walanka x Indoctro) was imported from Europe as a four-year-old in 2017 by Vicki Wilson, and had a successful jumping career with her, winning – amongst other things – the seven-year-old Horse of the Year title in 2020 His offspring have been very well received during classification tours, many scoring Excellence and Merit: his stallion son, Columbus VWNZ, scored Excellence at his 2024 licensing. Carpaccio was the victim of a fatal colic episode that same year, at the age of 11.
Christopher Robin VWNZ’s dam Quiz Me VWNZ (Euro Sport Centavos - Tellay xx x Telereign xx) with her elite Hanoverian and Thoroughbred blood has proved to be a reliable producer of good youngsters. Her progeny include Vicki Wilson’s young stallion, Apollo VWNZ (Arlento ST). She has been sold to Highline Stud.
Vicki also bred the mare who finished fifth in the class: Couture VWNZ (Captivate VWNZ - Coupdunsoir VWNZ x Cassiano), a five-year-old NZ Warmblood...
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