Finally an update, so lots to write about. I have been working on the new look for the website and then got busy, so the website had to wait! We've had a good season, although there certainly have been lots of other things going on that's resulted in the end of the season creeping up on me very quickly! There have been some great results in the young rider and grand prix classes, and although we have been a little plagued with minor irritating injuries, overall I'm pretty happy with the season as a whole. Once again it was great catching up with Mother Tina and the team at Pryde's at Horse of the Year, their support over the years is very much appreciated. The horses are looking better than ever at the moment and are in fantastic condition.

In February I jetted of to Australia to visit Alice at Oaks Sporthorses, and our feisty filly Oaks Con Balu MSH (Contenda x Kannan x Zeus), for the AWHA Classification Tour. Con Balu scored very well achieving 80% overall and even bringing in a 9.75 for her outstanding canter! She is a very strong and motivated filly, and is so physically and mentally tough after such a rough start to life. We are very happy with her! It was great to catch up with Alice and the rest of the team at Oaks who have done such a fantastic job of caring for Con Balu. Other foals by Contenda also impressed on the tour with Veronica Tearle's yearling colt, Oscar Park Chrisholm receiving 79.46%, and leading the yearling males. On the ACE Assessment tour Pam Maclean's colt foal, WG Confederate, achieved Elite status, and a filly foal by Contenda received 76%.

The weekend after I got home we had the NZ Holsteiner Classification Tour come to Maverick. We had 10 horses here, including our own. It was very interesting getting to meet Rasmus Luneburg and his partner Alessa and we really enjoyed having everyone for the day. 


Earlier in the season we sponsored the World Cup Final series class at the Waitemata WC show. Katie McVean won the class aboard the impressive Springfield, and she walked away with a serve to Contenda. Contenda himself has been performing very well in Australia since coming back into work after the breeding season, including placing 3rd in 1*class at Sydney, and winning the 2* class at Albury Horse Trials. We will be offering a breeders special next season for NZ mares so keep your eyes peeled for more details closer to the season.

Our pony stallion, Spitfire has been having a great time this last month with a client german warmblood x arab pony mare by Davidoff, so we are hopeful that he will have his first captive foal born next season. More information on and pictures of Spitfire can be found on the Stallions page.

We also have a new horse in the team with the arrival of the 6 year old Ramirez mare, Vive le RĂªve MSH. She is a very blood type mare, so even though I plan to give her a chance under saddle, I hope that in the coming years she will successfully complement our breeding programme.

We have just had our first major storm of the season, so it looks as though winter is just around the corner, although it has been so warm for April! I have some exciting plans for the winter and will be leaving for Germany at the end of this month and staying for 8 weeks, basing myself in the centre of Holstein, at a breeding, production and grand prix stable. I will be making the most of the training and the shows and foal auctions that will be happening whilst I'm there. Hopefully there's an exciting and productive winter ahead!