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Equifest won't return to Christchurch

We are sad to announce that Equifest won't be returning to Christchurch this year. We understand that this news may disappoint many of you who have been hoping that you would see us return!We never like to say never, but at this point, it's just not financially feasible for us to hold the event in Christchurch. We're always on the lookout for ways to connect with our South Island community and bring value to our supporters.We hope that some of you can travel to Equifest Taupō, and we'd love to ...

Save the date: Equifest Taupō 18 - 20 October 2024

Equifest 2023 proved to be a resounding success! With a notable 11.51% surge in attendance compared to previous years, the event firmly cemented its place as a must-attend affair on the equestrian calendar. Here are some key statistics from the event and quotes from our visitors:...

Searching for future Equifest Stars

Set to be a new feature at Equifest, the Equifest Future Stars Competition encourages entrants to showcase their unique relationship with their horse/s in a creative, meaningful and entertaining way while deepening the level of equine talent in the industry.This competition is open to Amateur and Professional Trainers; however, the Horse entered must be new to equine entertainment and cannot have featured in an equine event's Nightshow before.Entrants will need to create a 4-5 minute freestyle r...

Exclusive Problem-Solving Masterclass & Sunday Day Pass

We're super excited to announce that Yvet Blokesch of Feather Light Horsemanship will be joining us at Equifest Taupō, all the way from the Netherlands!With an immense love for special horses in need, Yvet is a specialist in starting young horses and working with horses who face strong difficulties in life. Her stable is filled with horses in training that she helps work through their problem to see the world differently.Along with her love for liberty training, she performs with her horses. He...

New Brave Pants Leg-Up Marquee

A goal of Equifest has always been to empower and support the New Zealand equine industry. So in conjunction with our supplier Carlton Hire and sponsored by The Brave Pants Co., we are excited to announce that we have added a newly designed exhibition space, especially for charities or new and emerging businesses, to showcase their side hustles.The new Brave Pants Leg-Up Marquee is designed to help Kiwi entrepreneurs turn their dreams into reality. Exhibitors selected for the Brave Pants Le...

Save the date: Equifest Taupō 13 - 15 October 2023

It has been an interesting start to 2023, with the weather again wreaking havoc on events, horse shows and many of our summer holiday plans. So, we are excited to be able to share some good news and announce the dates for Equifest Taupō 2023! Join us for three days of unmissable equine festival fun and enjoyment, celebrating all things equine. From professionals to enthusiasts of all disciplines, riding levels and ages, together we can connect, learn and power the industry Inspiring crowds with...

Equine Action All Weekend Long in Christchurch

The South Island equine community will be treated to three days of shopping, competitions and thrilling entertainment when Equifest comes to Christchurch this weekend 9-11 December 2022. Opening the gates to equine-enthused crowds, Equifest is being held at the Canterbury Agricultural Park. Riding off the back of a successful Taupō event held in October this year, organisers are excited to bring the equine extravaganza that pulls all corners of the horsey world together to the South Island for...

Saddle up Taupō, Equifest is coming

Streams of equine enthusiasts will soon be filling Taupō’s purpose built equine facility, the Dunstan Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre, as equine event Equifest prepares for three days of action-packed education, shopping and competition. Running from 28 – 30 October, the event will celebrate all things horses in an equine-themed festival-style celebration. Equifest is the only national event of its type where people come together to connect and share their passion for all equine disc...

Christchurch announced as Equifest location

The South Island equine community will be treated to three days of inspiration, shopping, competitions and thrilling entertainment when Equifest heads to Christchurch from 9-11 December 2022. Equifest Christchurch will be running at the Canterbury Agricultural Park bringing everything we know and love about Equifest to the South Island “Taking Equifest to the South Island was an easy decision,” says Event Director Ammie Hardie. “The South Island has a really strong equine community with re...

2022 Dates Announced!

The secret is out! We are delighted to announce planning is underway to return to the NEC in Taupō and for the first time, we are taking Equifest to Christchurch to the Canterbury Agricultural Park. The team have been chatting to educators, redesigning the exhibition space and looking at ways we can make 2022 the biggest and best yet! We can't wait to see you in Taupō on 28 - 30 October 2022 and Christchurch 9 - 11 December 2022.  After a year's hiatus, Equifest will return with...

Equifest Cancelled Due To Red Traffic Light

Following this morning’s Government announcement that all of New Zealand will be moving to Red in the COVID-19 Protection Framework tonight at 11.59pm the Equifest team feel that we have no option but to announce the heart-breaking decision to cancel Equifest Summer Special. As with how we've approached this situation all along, we have continued to proceed until we are told otherwise. It has become clear that there is no feasible way to plan the event which is less than 2 weeks away as ...

Equine world will still get their festival

The equine industry is set to celebrate its own festival this summer as Equifest prepares to descend upon Taupō Waitangi Weekend, 4 – 6 February.   Attracting thousands of people, the event combines valuable education, thrilling competition, shopping and dazzling entertainment. Held at the Dunstan Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre, Equifest will include a marketplace of more than 140 exhibitors, and feature 30 experienced equine educators, along with competitions and demonstrat...

Good News For Summer Events

It is fantastic news to have the Government funding backing for summer festivals and events. This is a massive deal for us as a small family-owned event business it has given us the financial certainty to carry on planning. Plus it also means that if Equifest is cancelled due to Covid we will offer a refund on tickets (excluding the small admin fee). With the threat of COVID hanging heavily over our planning, we have fielded a large number of queries regarding the event and clarification on...

Event Postponed to 4 - 6 February 2022

Equifest 2021 was set to be a celebration of everything we love about our equine industry here in New Zealand. We were so close the event was shaping up to be phenomenal with exhibitor numbers and ticket sales well ahead of last year. However sadly, the current COVID 19 outbreak and subsequent lockdowns have realistically taken the decision out of our control, and we have announced the postponement of the 2021 event. The decision to postpone was not made lightly and has been done in consultation...

Saddles needed to suit both horse and rider.

NSC was founded on the concept that saddles needed to suit BOTH horse and rider. Whilst today this may be common knowledge, before the NSC was formed in NZ in 2002 the thought process was more to do with fitting the horse and then ‘making do’ for the rider.Josephine Dancy founder of NSC, was unsatisfied with “custom” saddles being no more than a change of colour of the piping. Since her current range of brands were not interested in actual pattern changes, she started her own brand. With...

Equifest Colouring Competition

We know being stuck in lockdown can be hard so we've got a colouring project everyone in the family can do. Plus, be in to win 1 of 3 limited edition Equifest t-shirts and a general admission ticket to the event in October.  Instructions: Contest open to all New Zealand residents.Download the artwork files and save them to your device. You can choose to print or use a creative app to colour them in. Photograph (or scan) your entry, and send it to info@equifest.co.nz Entries close ...

VIP & Supporters Weekend Passes On sale 1 August

It's nearly time! Are you ready to snap up your 2021 Equifest tickets?VIP and Supporters Weekend Passes go on sale at 12pm Sunday 1 August to the general public. There is a limited number of DISCOUNTED tickets available at 10am before the general public, but you need to be an Equifest insider. To become an insider simply sign up to our newsletters and you will receive the code at 10am Sunday 1 August.  Check out the ticket classes below that will be available on 1 August. All othe...

Equifest receives boost for 2021

Only in its second year, Equifest the festival of all thing’s equine is set to up the celebrations thanks to funding success from The Thermal Explorer Regional Events Fund. Equifest is returning to the National Equestrian Centre in Taupō from 29-31 October 2021 giving the country’s equine community three days of testing competitions, dazzling entertainment and valuable education. Equifest is the only national event of its type where people come together to connect and share their passion f...

Equifest is back!

Riding on the back of the successful inaugural 2020 event amidst a year full of covid cancellations, we are excited to be returning to the National Equestrian Centre in Taupo.  The three-day equine extravaganza will inspire, connect and power the industry, delivering an engaging community-led experience for lovers of all things equine. Equifest is the only national event of its type where people come together to connect and share their passion for all equine disciplines.  “The strong...

Equifest ends on a high

Thousands of horse lovers descended upon the National Equestrian Centre in Taupo for Equifest on the weekend. The event brought together all disciplines within the equine industry for three days of equine action. The biggest prize getter of the weekend was Grand Prix and CSI-W World Cup winner Lisa Coupe who took out 1st, 2nd and 6th in Fridays Fixine for Equine 1.25 Horse Speed. The Horse 1.35 Championships went to Olympic showjumper and Taupo local Duncan McFarlane upon Be Mine NZPH with a do...

Horse fans flock to Equifest

Horse lovers throughout the country are gathering in Taupo for New Zealand’s finest equine extravaganza, Equifest, kicking off tomorrow (Friday) at Taupo’s National Equestrian Centre until Sunday. Open November 27-29, the brand new national event celebrates all things equine; combining education, competition, shopping and nightshows. The three-day festival pulls equine experts and horse lovers together from around the country, just what the industry needs after a challenging year of distance...

A few brief thoughts about horsemanship

Riding, working and training horses, as with anything, gains better results through better understanding. True horsemanship, working in a safe manner by building trust and respect, requires comprehending several principles from the perspective of the horse. Personal safety is a horse’s main priority, ranking higher even than eating, which comes in a close second. Everything about they’re physical makeup is created for survival, from their sharp eyesight and hearing to their flight instinct t...

A Key to Success

Some time towards the end of last century I made the decision to make horses my life and my livelihood and there began a journey that has lead me to learn and teach in 19 countries and start young horses on four continents. A lot of people know me for my Liberty or Bridleless ridding demonstrations but they are just a small part of a congruent approach to developing a horse into a safe, fun and functional partner. In my clinics I emphasise horse physiology and seeing life from the horses point o...

Wilson sisters announced as Equifest Ambassadors

It really wouldn't be a celebration without our favourite sisters Vicki, Kelly and Amanda. The Wilson Sisters have time after time shown their commitment to New Zealand's equine industry and we are excited to announce that they have come on board as Equifest Ambassadors. The Ambassadors will present hands-on and practical education sessions throughout the 3-days, ensuring visitors have the chance to learn some valuable training tips. Plus, you can also see their talents ...

Equifest – Your equine event

The community spoke and we listened. Equifest, a celebration of all things equine, is New Zealand’s newest national equine event and promises to be a groundbreaker. Held November 27 to 29th as a 3-day equine extravaganza in Taupo, Equifest is designed to impress and inspire. Created and driven by experienced event and equine professionals specialising in delivering successful large international events, Equifest has been thoughtfully developed to inspire, connect and power the industry. Equife...