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Photo: Wendi Williamson riding Don Armour MH with Jonny Hilberath during the Dressage Masterclass
It’s a wrap. Four tremendous days of fun, excitement, entertainment, inspiration and champs have drawn to a close and already there is talk of a return in 2019.

EQUITANA Auckland brought some of the very best in the world Down Under to share their knowledge – Jonny Hilberath, the German Olympic gold medal winning dressage team coach; former world number one eventer Andrew Nicholson; Australian showjumping super star Rod Brown; and America’s “most trusted” horseman John Lyons.

IRT The Way of The Horse more than delivered at EQUITANA Auckland with Coastie Tui Teka reigning supreme after four inspiring days of competition.

TWOTH featured Kiwis Tui Teka and Emily Weibel and Australians Sharna Little and Brett Davey spending just four hours over the entire event, taking unhandled three-year-old horses from wild to willing over the four days.

It proved a huge hit with the audience, with numbers growing by the day. All of the work was done under the watchful eyes of judges Jonny Hilberath, Andrew Nicholson and John Lyons.

Julie Brougham added a second open dressage title to her trophy cabinet today when she won the inaugural Kubota EQUITANA New Zealand Open Grand Prix.

She and Vom Feinsten were a class act, scoring 70.63%, with John Thompson (Hamilton) and JHT Antonello second on 69.5%, and Wendi Williamson (Kumeu) and Dejavu MH third on 68.9%.

The win by Brougham (Palmerston North) backed up her win in the ATEED New Zealand Open Freestyle Grand Prix to Music earlier in the event.
The Rio Olympian and her German-bred chestnut seem to be getting better and better, and are now chasing qualifying scores for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in the United States.

The Kiwis are celebrating after a convincing win in the U17 World Mounted Games Team Championship today. The team led from the first run today and finished on 133 points, with Australian and Wales tied on 99, with a tie-break going the way of Australia for second and Wales third.

The Southern Hemisphere team just edged out the opposition to take out the B Final. It was a special win for trainer Patris Christensen whose mother died overnight. Many riders wore black bands in her honour.

New Zealand have secured their first age group world title with victory in the U17 World Mounted Games Team Championship at EQUITANA Auckland.

Breeze’s stint in retirement hasn’t lasted long, but her fantastic form has continued.

This morning, she and Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) took out the City of Sails Classic Winning Round at EQUITANA Auckland, heading home a 12-strong field in the indoor arena.

It’s been another magnificent day at EQUITANA Auckland with open crown winners found in the musical freestyle dressage, grand prix showjumping and express eventing.

Rio Olympian Julie Brougham and Vom Feinsten took out the ATEED New Zealand Open Freestyle Grand Prix to Music with an impressive 72.13%. Recent FEI World Cup finalist Wendi Williamson (Kumeu) aboard Dejavu MH on 70.38% and John Thompson (Hamilton) on JHT Antonello third on 70.29%.

Rio Olympian Julie Brougham and Vom Feinsten were every bit the stars tonight as they won the inaugural ATEED New Zealand Open Freestyle Grand Prix to Music.

The Australasian freestyle record holders from Palmerston North scored an impressive 72.13%, with recent FEI World Cup finalist Wendi Williamson (Kumeu) aboard Dejavu MH on 70.38% and John Thompson (Hamilton) on JHT Antonello third on 70.29%.

Rose Alfeld’s dream showjumping season continued tonight with a victory in the inaugural EQUITANA New Zealand Open Grand Prix.
Alfeld was over the moon.

“He was just amazing,” said the 22-year-old who notched the only double clear of the night aboard My Super Nova. “I think he likes it up here.”
Lex Peddie challenged the nine strong field with some tight turns in the close indoor arena.

Cambridge solicitor Nick Brooks was “surprised and thrilled” to win the inaugural Kubota EQUITANA Auckland New Zealand Open Express Eventing crown.

He was the first out in the 15-strong field, but says today it certainly played to his advantage.