As a racehorse, Coco suffered from a severe case of slow disease which he demonstrated in all of his nine starts, bar one when he ran fifth! In June 2004 he was retired from racing and 3 weeks later he arrived at Haley’s.

Together they attend adult riding club and the occasional show, where they have picked up the only ribbons Haley has ever won, including a handful of firsts. Haley describes Coco as her best friend of over 13 years and he also looks after her young daughter who enjoys bareback rides on him.

In the future the pair will continue to do what they do best – hacking, having fun and exploring new places. Haley says “he is the most fun horse to hack out and go random places with - through town, with or without the company of other horses. We have even been known to go through drive thru's!”

Coco has a home or life with Haley, and judging by the photos he is one well loved Thoroughbred!

Given he is by Volksraad and out of a Kaapstad mare, it is no surprise that Veldt was bred and sold by Windsor Park Stud, the home to both of these champion sires during their time at stud. As a yearling he caught the eye of trainer, Murray Baker who purchased him for $75,000 at the 2008 NZB Select Yearling Sale. He quickly proved to be an astute purchase, performed in the highest of company as a 2yo with placings in both the Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes and the Listed Karaka Million.

When he retired after his last race in January 2014, Veldt had accumulated a total of 39 starts for 6 wins, 15 placings and over $127,000 in stakes. It didn’t take him long to adjust to his new life as a sporthorse with the Irvine family and competed in showjumping up to 1.25m as well as showhunter before becoming a member of the Walker family.

Together Brea and Veldt have picked up a number of wins and placings in showhunter, showjumping and eventing. At home, Veldt is affectionately known as “Mr Tidy Toes” due to being ‘the most careful showjumper while also being brave and covering the ground well on the XC course”.

Brea has recently decided to offer Veldt for sale, she says “ he is very sadly for sale but it's his time to teach someone else everything he has taught me” and until the perfect person comes along they will continue to aim for pre-novice eventing and qualifying to compete in the showhunter ring.

Gino trialled seven times, but never raced and was retired from the racing barn in November 2013. Prior to Anna purchasing him, he was schooled in showing and dressage before ending up at Chester Farm where he started his jump training.

Anna originally spotted Gino in an advert and after viewing him for the first time she knew instantly that he was the perfect fit for her eventing team, at 15.2hh he didn't look very big, but he certainly made up for this in his talent! Since then they have gone on to compete in a range of disciplines, with a focus on eventing where they have had placings in both CNC105 & CCN105. Gino was also awarded the Rising Star trophy for the 2016/17 season at the Northland Eventing Awards.

Anna is excited about Gino’s future and refers to him as her “little pocket rocket, who is very fun to ride”. With ambitions of riding competitively at 3* level eventing, Anna is hoping that Gino will be part of the team that helps her achieve this and they will step up to 1* level this season, and see from there what the future brings.

Neo was raced under the name Wave Rider and began her career with Waiuku trainer Moira Murdoch. After a few starts with not much luck, Neo was transferred to Jan Hay’s stable in Ashburton. Neo's best race result was a 2nd placing in a New Zealand Bloodstock Pearl Series race specially for mares and fillies. The Cecconi mare retired off the track with $2,920 to her name after 9 starts.

A week after retiring from the track Neo found herself with her new owner, Hayley Thomas who works in marketing and graphic design. Hayley has been focusing on dressage with Neo and recently attended a few local dressage days, which she took in her stride, with scores consistently over 60% at beginner level. They have also won Champion Inhand and Reserve Champion Ridden exhibit and have begun jump schooling and completed 2 eventing starts.

Neo has been a special horse to Hayley right from the start and is known as 'Princess Pony' around home. Hayley describes her as a "special lovely sweet horse" and goes on to say Neo is a true representation of how incredible the TB breed is - versatile, willing, trainable and lovable.

Looking ahead to the future Hayley is hoping to produce Neo into a solid all-rounder as she seems to excel at whatever she is faced at!

Panda was bred and raced by Sally McKay, he had 11 race day starts during between 2012 and 2014 without much success and was retired off the track with just over $1,000 in winnings to his name.

Trainee accountant Kimberleigh, got Panda straight off the track and has transitioned the black gelding into a sport horse. Together they have done three ODE’s up to 95cm and have finished on their dressage score each time. Panda is bold on the cross country and will jump from any spot or angle. The combination have also show jumped to 1.10m and Kimberleigh has her sights set 1.20m show jumping and 1* eventing in the future.

“Panda is very willing to please and always tries 110%” Says Kimberleigh, he was also the chosen mount for a friend of Kimberleigh’s when she competed in her first ever show jumping competition!

Teddy was born at Coolmore Australia and was sent to Curraghmore Stud to be prepped for the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock LTD Yearling Sales. He was sold for $50,000 as a yearling and began his life as a racehorse with Te Aroha trainer Louise McGregor. He was unplaced in his first trial as a 2yo and failed to complete his first race over 1000m. He was then transferred to Rachel Cave’s Te Awamutu stable and continued with the same lack of form as he started with to retire off the track in 2015 with no winnings to his name.

Since his retirement off the track Teddy has found himself with Juliet, a full time Academic, and together are forming a strong partnership. The combination are working their way up the dressage ranks and recently won their first ribbons in the dressage arena proving Teddy to be willing and sensible even though he is still young. Juliet is also hoping to take part in a few A&P Shows and a bit of show hunter too.

Teddy is always happy to see Juliet and adores going out exploring the countryside. He has a cheeky, willing and sweet personality who loves to please and as Juliet puts is “makes my heart sing”. Teddy has proven to Juliet that she has the ability to bring on an off the track thoroughbred as all it takes is just the right partnership!

Teddy had his first race as a 2yo over 1200m for trainer John Wheeler Racing Stables in 2005. He then went on to race in a further 48 flat races which included a third place in the Group 2 New Zealand Cup in 2007 – a run that earnt him a trip across the Tasman at the end of the 2007-2008 season where he picked up a win and a couple of placings before returning to NZ. Towards the end of his career his was tried over jumps by John before being moved to the stable of Daniel Champion and Kezia Murohy in Ashburton. In total, he won over $130,000 for his connections and was retired off the track in 2011.

Georgia is now the rider of Teddy and together the combination have been eventing at 95cm and show jumping up to 1m as well as competing in round the ring and attending Pony Club. Teddy and Georgia competed at the 2016 Springston Trophy (Pony Club) and Georgia is aiming for the 2017 event as well. She describes Teddy as being amazingly bold on cross country and says he has given her a huge amount of confidence.

Teddy is special to Georgia as he is her first hack and as she says, “he has the cutest personality with a bit of cheekiness in there too!”

Together the pair are aiming to compete at 1.05cm this season and we look forward to seeing their progress.