Haig Dressage

09/01/2025

Flint was our first arrival of 2025 and is here to keep ticking over while his mum is away.
He comes with a bit of a story….he is by mums now deceased Riding Pony stallion, Kirkwood Blacklight and grew far bigger than he should have!
Another client of mine at the time had him on trial with a view to purchase several years ago now, and I remember thinking back then he was a seriously nice horse as a showing prospect. The sale didn’t eventuate and we lost track of him. Fast forward to 2023 and I saw an advert and recognised him straight away - I messaged a friend of mine and suggested she buy him, and she did (she now has three horses I suggested she should buy 🤣). Flint had gotten himself a bit of a reputation as being a problem child and had been through several homes, none working out.
His current owner has left no stone un turned with getting him back on the straight and narrow and has done a super job with him. They are qualified for HoY this year and just might be heading up!

06/01/2025

First time having the gear on today and the golden boy didn’t give two hoots 💛
I won’t be starting him properly until the Autumn but couldn’t resist having a wee play today!
Another collection booked tomorrow for him - he’s had a fantastic strike rate this season and his books are open to select mares until 1 March. Most updates about him are on his own page 👇🏼
Quasar SSH - Cremello Warmblood Stallion NZ

02/01/2025

We are ready to be back on deck tomorrow after a few days of recharging!

Next clinic dates:
Otago - 9&10 January
Ashburton - 12 January (full, waitlist applies).
Limited spots also available from home in Darfield.

Schooling & sales on behalf spots are currently fully booked until approx early March. Please ensure to book well ahead in advance to avoid missing out as spots are strictly limited.

Quasar SSH - Cremello Warmblood Stallion NZ will be available at stud until 1 March. His stud fee this season is an introductory offer for his first season and will be increasing for next season…so make the most of it! He has a great strike rate and is maturing into a VERY exciting young stallion. I cannot wait to break him in very soon 🦄

31/12/2024

2024 over and out ✌🏼
She’s been an up and down year, some very exciting arrivals sitting in the paddock to be produced in 2025 but also the sad reality of this business and making the tough decisions to part with both Loui and Sadie, who have both found the best homes!
Vera is (finally!) back in full work and feeling awesome - I just love this mare even though she’s just about on a first name basis with most vets in Canterbury and has a list of insurance exclusions a mile long.
Ken is maturing better than I had even hoped for and has his first mares in foal and due in the Spring of 2025. I will also start him under saddle in a few months which I am incredibly excited about.
My pupils have been absolutely killing it out in each of their respective disciplines and I couldn’t be more proud.
After a few quiet years on the competition front I have been back out and about more with some lovely young horses and found myself enjoying competing once again after being stuck in a bit of a negative rut over it for a while, and am looking forward to the second half of the season 💛
Thankyou to everyone who has supported and helped out throughout 2024. It really does take a village - a particular shout out to Charlize who I would have been lost without!
And of course my clients who send me such lovely horses to work with 🦄
Thanks to my sponsors The Cover Queen and Epona Downs Equestrian Limited - Wow Saddles Elite NZ for their continued support 🥰
We have lots to look forward to in 2025 - I cannot wait 🤩

18/12/2024

It seems we like to complete collections 😂
The beautiful 3yo buckskin mare, Quickstep SSH joined us yesterday.
‘Hazel’ is by Qaside MD (Quasi Gold - sire of Quasar SSH - Cremello Warmblood Stallion NZ) and out of a Fugato/Sandreo/Anamour mare.
Pictured here alongside Quasar SSH as early yearlings up with their breeder! They won’t be allowed to graze together now for obvious reasons 🍒
Hazel is with us to be quietly produced and eventually find her new human, unless I decide she suits me 🫣
Thankyou to her breeder, Rafaella, for trusting us with her 🥰

12/12/2024

Delighted to be on board again sponsoring a few classes at the South Island Premier Championship Show.
Best of luck to everyone competing this weekend!

💎SPONSOR NEWS💎

The wonderful Lauren from Haig Dressage is back as a major supporter of the show for 2024 👏.

Check out Lauren’s FB page for a run down of all this clever lady has to offer! Schooling, lessons, sale on behalf and more!!

2024 SI PREMIER SHOW SPONSOR:
🐴SI PREMIER - ‘INTERMEDIATE RIDER TITLE’
🐴SI PREMIER - ‘SENIOR RIDER TITLE’
🐴SI PREMIER - ‘NOVICE HORSE CHALLENGE’

Keep an eye out for a sought after schooling package from Lauren in our upcoming online auction!💥

11/12/2024

Happy third year of retirement big Mo ❤️
The big guy is 19 now and living his best life keeping the babies in line 🦄

11/12/2024

I made the big trek down to Gore last week for the Southland Premier League Show with Sadie & Terzo. We very nearly didn’t make it due to me having to have x rays earlier in the week after I got kicked in the arm (nothing broken luckily!) and then the brakes locking on the float 30 minutes into our drive south….smoke everywhere and ponies offloaded onto the side of the road (luckily both quiet ponies!). Massive thanks to Natalie & Jess who came to check on us and were prepared to house & transport the horses home when we thought the float was more damaged than it actually was. Three hours later (still on the side of the road) I got the green light from a mechanic that it was good to go so off we set!
Sadie did a lovely 1A for 69% and 3rd in a very competitive class. She got another 3rd in the Super 5 with a couple of minor blips but still some lovely work in between.
Terzo loved his trip South and I don’t think drew breath from eating the whole time! He seems to be getting over his stage fright of competing and produced the best test he’s done so far, for 5th in the Super 5, so I was stoked with him. Still plenty of confidence to gain yet but he has stepped up and he is such a lovely horse for the future.

We elected to scratch entirely from Sunday due to wind warnings along the long drive home, even with leaving early we struck heavy winds and the float was a bit worse for wear on arrival home!
It was rather sad not bringing Sadie home, but instead loading her onto her new owners truck. However I couldn’t have asked for a better home for her and I am very much looking forward to helping them along their journey through the grades 🥰

Massive thanks to Helene for all her help and playing camp mother over the weekend. And the Dressage Southland committee for putting on such a super show - I really enjoyed my time there and putting many faces to names I’ve only communicated with through this page until now!
And of course the sponsors of the show - Harper Horse Coaches & Floats, Kiwi Arena Rakes, VetPro & CM Equestrian.

And of course my own sponsors The Cover Queen and Epona Downs Equestrian Limited - Wow Saddles Elite NZ.

That’s us for 2024 - I am looking forward to the second half of the season in 2025!

10/12/2024

We have a list a mile long wanting video of Leo - I don’t think I can manage sending video privately to every person who has asked via message, so here he is this morning 🥰
He is such a trainable, sensible ride who improves every time he is worked.
16.1hh 6yo Gym Bello/Falkensee gelding. Safe, sane ride with an exceptional temperament without sacrificing on quality. He will make someone incredibly happy!
PM for further info.

04/12/2024

Southcote Geometric
6yo dark brown 16.1hh gelding.
Sire: Kinnordy Gym Bello (Gymnastik Star)
Dam: Rangeview Natasha (Falkensee).

“Leo” has the most fantastic brain, and is a safe, sane and straight forward ride. He is responsive without being hot, and tries his heart out for his rider.
He has three lovely, swinging, smooth paces with plenty of ability to progress through the grades as have some of his full siblings, including “Astek Galahad” (very successful small tour horse and NZL team horse at the WDC in 2017).
Leo has been good to hack out with his owner/breeder (including the beach) and has also competed at a dressage winter series coming away with Champion Training Horse (level 0). He would be ready to step out successfully at preliminary, and with us is working on consolidating some lateral work and counter canter.

Leo is great to handle and absolutely zero fuss out in the paddocks.

He would be extremely well suited to a rider wanting a safe, sane horse which still has the quality to be seriously competitive on an upward trajectory through the grades.
Leo is a unicorn in disguise - it is hard to find such quality but with such a laid back attitude.

02/12/2024

I couldn’t have been happier with Sadie at Canterbury Champs over the weekend - only her third show, and she was so laid back and rideable. Aside from a few unwanted flying changes while puddle jumping in our first test she didn’t put a foot wrong ❤️ Her percentages kept going up all weekend and with plenty of 7.5s and 8s for various movements, it’s nice to know we are on track with her training!
She got a tidy 3rd and 4th yesterday in strong classes, and I couldnt have asked for any more from her for where she is currently at, she has such a huge frame and we are still in the process of getting her stronger and stronger so she is only going to get better. She hasn’t had much of a chance before now having had two foals but she is loving her ridden career and the attention it brings!
Thankyou to the class sponsors - Zealandia and VetPro, as well as major show sponsors Carnmore Hotels.
And my own sponsors - The Cover Queen and Epona Downs Equestrian Limited - Wow Saddles Elite NZ.
And thanks mum for coming to video a couple of tests while still in recovery mode - to anyone who saw her just about tip up on Sunday morning….no she wasn’t drunk 😂

Sadie and Terzo are off to Gore in a couple of days….it will be sad coming home without Sadie but I am so excited for her new mum!

01/12/2024

I have a client looking for the following - please PM with details if you have something sitting in your paddocks which may suit 🦄
- 3 to 5yo
- 16hh plus
- Preferably unbroken or done very little
- Preferably dressage bred but would also consider jumping lines.
- Sound and sane
- Reasonable budget

Photo of Vera so this post hopefully gets seen!

29/11/2024

Astek Remember Me (Emmy)
16hh 7yo Ramirez/Gym Bello mare.
Emmy is a real quality mare with a super brain on her. Three lovely paces, good in the contact and easy off the leg.
Emmy competed successfully in the 4yo YDH classes with scores up to 78%. She has her lateral work established and is not far away from being ready to compete at elementary level.
Emmy has not done much in the last couple of years due to her owners time restraints. She was a breeze to bring back into work.

Emmy would suit a competitive rider wanting a quality horse to produce through the grades.

29/11/2024

Lox Flora
Bloomfield Fahabi (Fidersten)/Vollrath Lessing.
7yo grey mare
Flora is a beautiful type, with three very good paces. Floras basics are well established and although green for her age, she is coming along nicely in her time with us. She shows plenty of capacity to sit and carry and gives a lovely feel.
Flora has not competed yet due to her owners time restraints, but has been out hacking and was great.
Flora is a sensitive but safe mare, and would best suit a kind, competent rider to further her education.
In the right hands this mare will go a long way!

28/11/2024

Thankyou Snaffle Design!
Quasar SSH - Cremello Warmblood Stallion NZ

21/11/2024

Great few days training on my two girls - thanks Christine Weal Equestrian!
Finally starting to feel like we might just get there after all with Vera….she’s incredibly talented but far from easy, and has tested me in every sense of the word, including the most frustrating run of niggly injuries and illnesses which has made our progress incredibly stop-start over the last year. But today produced some super work and was the most rideable she’s been away from home 🥰
Sadie was a dream boat and puts her older paddock mate with much more mileage to shame. I wonder if her new owner will notice if I send her a smaller, hotter, brighter bay instead 😂🫣

21/11/2024

Some incredibly exciting dilute warmblood foals due next season from our own Quasar SSH - Cremello Warmblood Stallion NZ!

19/11/2024

It’s like having an old friend back 💕
Some of you may remember Leroy who was here with us last year and found himself a new mum.
He’s been back for the last few weeks to be kept in work while his parents have been busy getting married, and goes home again this weekend. We’ve loved having him back again briefly!