Sonya Benison Equestrian

04/08/2025

Mr Perfect 🦄 69% in both his tests

Supported by an incredible team
Bella Maitland Photography 📸
Beyond The Bit - 👗
Archers Saddlery - beautiful Ideal dressage saddle
Helite Equestrian NZ - Cool Airvests for Every Occasion
Equine Mementos

03/08/2025

MF Titan enjoying showing off in the sun today 🥰☀️

21/07/2025

So incredibly heartbreaking. Tracy has had such a impact on so many and I’m incredibly lucky for the hours she has spend giving me advice, lessons, course walks and help in the warmup rings to shape me to the rider I am today. Thank you Tracy you will be missed forever 🕊️❤️

VALE - Tracy Kovacs. Very sorry to hear of the passing of Tracy who I believe had been unwell in recent weeks. Thinking of her family, friends and students at this sad time. Many people have benefited from her knowledge over the years in equestrian circles.
I have a vivid memory of chatting to Tracy ringside at the Royal Easter Show in Auckland for the Easter Classic. She had come up to compete with the mighty Billion at some of the big shows such as HOY when it was held at Karaka in the mid 1990's. Billion was a big horse with a dash of Clydesdale in his breeding.

Photo sourced from Facebook. Either H&P or the Bulletin.

20/07/2025

MF Star Quality exceeding all expectations jumping super at the training day today

Owned by Cherie Cournane, Pip Wilson, and myself

Bella Maitland Photography capturing these special moments

12/07/2025

The Helite Zipln2 Airbag Airvest is something I wear everyday when riding my horses.

Super easy to use, with a simple clip on to a saddle strap, no fuss and incredibly easy going from horse to horse. A safety blanket that follows me around without me noticing.
These airvest are specificity designed to be incredibly comfortable for day to day use and competitions as well as being robust, and will endure the hard knocks of everyday riding.

Helite airvests are made with plenty of room for expansion ensuring the airvest is a perfect to fit over a back protector on cross country as well as a very stylish wear under your show jacket without being noticeable.
These Helite air vest are fully inflated in less than 0.1 seconds. This ensures the airvest is fully inflated before you hit the ground for a soft and safe landing.

Not only are the airvests straightforward to change the canisters when they have been used you can replace these straight from Helite.

The Zipin2 air vest zips straight into the Gilet sleeveless vest to protect my airvest while I am riding multiple horses a day and keeps it looking brand new. The Zipln2 air vest and Gilet sleeveless vests are incredibly comfortable to wear and I forget I even wearing it.

The Helite Zipln2 Airbag Airvest come with a 4 year warranty

https://equestrianairvests.co.nz/products/airnest-equestrian-vest

05/07/2025

New challenges were over come at eyreton last weekend and I am Very lucky to have such incredible family supporting me while my number 1 groom is out of action. Spyder finished 5th in the 105cm and Tommy finished 4th in the 80cm

Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient - Steve Maraboli

Bella Maitland Photography capturing the magic
Helite Equestrian NZ - Cool Airvests for Every Occasion
Beyond The Bit
Equine Mementos
Archers Saddlery

25/06/2025

Very grateful to have been reselected onto the ESNZ high performance Talent ID Squad for the 25/26 season

I am grateful for the team around me who continue to support me on this journey through the highs and lows.

Excited for what’s to come

𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 | 𝗛𝗣 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱𝘀
ESNZ High Performance has undertaken the mid-year reviews of all discipline high performance squads. Depth, talent and commitment are highlights for ESNZ high performance general manager Jock Paget as the revised squads for dressage, eventing, endurance and jumping are announced.
Congratulations to all athletes, horse owners and connections.

Click 👇 to view the full squads
https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2025/06/high-performance-reviewed-squads-announced/

Dressage NZ
ESNZ Endurance
ESNZ Eventing
ESNZ Jumping & Show Hunter

22/06/2025

Such an incredible team to be apart of!

05/06/2025

My perfect 🦄 jumping around her first 105cm today at Rangiora

Owned with Cherie Cournane

Bella Maitland Photography - capturing the most important memories 🥰
Beyond The Bit - dressed to perfection for the occasion 💃
Helite Equestrian NZ - Cool Airvests for Every Occasion- looking good, while keeping safe ⛑️
Archers Saddlery - horses saddles are fitted to each individual needs 🐎
Equine Mementos - very special to have Rigby and Zara come around xc with me 💫

27/05/2025

Helite Airvests in Canterbury
I will be presenting the Airvests for you to try on, ask questions and hear all about why Helite is the best option for keeping you safe.
3pm Saturday 14th June at 36 Raven Dr, Springston
3pm Sunday 15th June at Phar lap Race Way, Timaru

30/04/2025

This young sport horse has it all, the breeding a super easy temperament and movement all in a super good looking friendly package

This young sport horse has it all, the breeding a super easy temperament and movement all in a super good looking friendly package DOB 19/10/25 EMH 16.1-2 ...

21/04/2025

A pretty incredible weekend at the John Jones Steel and Hinterland National 3day Championships.

MF Star Quality started the week on a high placing 3rd in the Melwood Equestrian NZ young event horse 0.15 behind the winner. QT is owned by Cherie Cournane, Pip Wilson and Myself

MF Titan lead the Penny Homes CCN95cm Championship start to finish, finishing on his dressage score of 25.5.

MF I Spy scored 29.8 on the flat with a baby moment to leave her out the placings

SB Trumpeter was very good at his 2nd event. He tried really hard and just added a baby rail to his dressage score.

A huge thank you to my sponsors and support team behind me !

Dressed in the best Beyond The Bit
Memories captured by Bella Maitland Photography
Kept safe in Helite Equestrian NZ - Cool Airvests for Every Occasion
Horses saddles fitted by Archers Saddlery
Beautiful jewellery by Equine Mementos
Gemma Lewis and Suzan Horst for the amazing dressage lessons