Sport and Performance Horse Association of New Zealand Inc

09/06/2026

NEIT MICROCHIPS AVAILABLE - FREE!

Thanks to a generous initiative from NZ Thoroughbred Racing, 1,600 microchips have been made available to the NZ Equine Health Association for use in non-racing horses. These have been distributed to veterinary clinics around the country through Approved Implanters registered with the NEIT system.

With many members currently in the process of identifying horses for breed registration, now is a great time to take advantage of this opportunity.

Simply ask your local vet whether they are an Approved Implanter - they can microchip your horse and register it on the NEIT system. The microchip itself is provided free of charge, though a consultation or implanting fee may apply, so check with your vet clinic for details. If you already have a vet visit planned for gelding or branding, it's the perfect time to get it done.

Once microchipped, the NEIT microchip number can also be used directly for your breed registration.

With AGM season well underway, we encourage you to share this with your members and start a conversation about the benefits of microchipping and registering their horses on the NEIT system.
FIRE BRANDING - Banned!
An important change in animal welfare regulations affecting horse, pony, and donkey owners across New Zealand.
As of 9 May 2026, hot branding of horses, ponies, and donkeys is no longer lawful under any circumstances.
By way of background: amendments to the Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018, which came into force on 9 May 2021, prohibited hot branding of animals generally (Regulation 55L). However, a five-year exemption under Regulation 55M allowed hot branding of horses, ponies, and donkeys to continue under controlled conditions. That exemption has now expired and has been automatically revoked, making hot branding of any animal illegal in all circumstances.
Freeze branding of equids remains permitted under Regulation 55K, provided it is carried out by a person who is experienced in - or has received training in - the correct use of the method, and who is able to recognise early signs of significant distress, injury, or ill-health in order to take prompt action or seek advice.

We encourage you to share this notice with your members and ensure that any identification practices used within your association are compliant with the law. Microchipping and freeze branding (carried out in accordance with Regulation 55K) remain available as alternative identification methods and are not affected by this change.

NEIT RESOURCES
Resources are continuing to be developed as the project progresses and will be made available on the NEIT website: neit.org.nz as they are developed.
We believe that education and clear communication are key to encouraging industry-wide uptake of the NEIT system. Our goal is to engage with you and your members-building momentum through collaboration rather than relying solely on regulation.

The NZEHA team are keen to engage with members of the industry as much as possible so please don’t hesitate to contact us through our website at: www.neit.org.nz/contact

29/05/2026

Here at SPHANZ we use the same method for verification

06/05/2026

One point of confusion we sometimes see within the breeding world is around what defines a horse’s actual studbook or breed registration - so here’s a little breed education post from the NZWA 😊

A horse should only ever have:

• ONE passport
• ONE UELN (Universal Equine Life Number)
• ONE studbook of birth ie ONE official breed registration

That identity stays with the horse for life.

When a foal is first registered, it is allocated a UELN number. This is an internationally recognised identification number that remains with that horse forever - regardless of ownership, discipline, or where in the world it competes.

For example:

554 009 ######X

• 554 = New Zealand
• 009 = New Zealand Warmblood Association studbook code
• The remaining digits = that horse’s unique lifetime registration number

That horse can only ever have ONE UELN and ONE passport.

So if a horse is birth registered as a New Zealand Warmblood, that is its studbook of birth for life. Likewise, if a horse is registered as a Holsteiner, Hanoverian, Thoroughbred, KWPN etc — that remains its breed identity permanently.

This is important internationally because when horses compete overseas, they are not only representing their rider, owner and breeder - they are also representing their studbook and breeding program.

A Holsteiner competing at Badminton, for example, is representing the Holsteiner studbook. A horse cannot simultaneously be registered as both a Holsteiner and a Hanoverian, or both a New Zealand Warmblood and another warmblood studbook.

You are what your passport says you are.

What CAN happen - and where some confusion arises - is that breeding animals may be approved or inspected INTO additional studbooks for breeding purposes.

For example:

• A Holsteiner mare may be accepted into the NZ Warmblood mare studbook
• A stallion may be licensed with multiple studbooks internationally

But this does NOT change the horse’s original studbook of birth or UELN identity.

It simply means that particular mare or stallion has been approved as suitable breeding stock for that studbook’s breeding program.

Choosing a studbook is therefore an important decision for breeders. People choose studbooks for many reasons - breeding direction, philosophy, international affiliations, classification systems, costs, community, or the type of horse they wish to produce.

But once a horse is registered and issued its UELN and passport, that identity remains with the horse for life 🌏🐴

We hope this helps clarify how international studbook registration works.

12/03/2026

Congratulations 🙌

🏆 Leading Breeder of the Tour

One of the final awards of the New Zealand Warmblood Classification Tour is one of the most prestigious — the Leading Breeder Award.

This award recognises the breeder whose three highest-scoring horses across the entire tour achieve the greatest combined score. With such a huge number of horses inspected during this year’s tour, having three horses rank among the very top is an outstanding achievement and a testament to the strength and consistency of a breeding programme.

This year’s Leading Breeder of the Tour is
✨ Gloriann Mullen – Wembleybrook Sport Horses ✨

Gloriann secured the title with three exceptional foals:
• Scarlet Witch WSH — by Supra Marvel WSH — 84.5%
• Carnyx Air WSH — by Cornet’s Air — 82.25%
• Supraman WSH — by Supra Marvel WSH — 80.25%
Total: 247 points

This year’s competition was extremely close, highlighting the strength of breeding programmes across the country:
• Catherine Smith — 246.75
• Paula Brocklehurst & Gregory Kingsley-Wilkins — 245.25
• Kieryn Walton from Walton Dressage Stables and also the team at VF Sporthorses
— 244.75
• Sandy Fryatt & Ross Beaven — 244

A special mention must also go to Murray Riches, a first-timer presenting foals on tour, who finished on an impressive 242.5 — an outstanding result and a very exciting debut!

When the margins are this tight, every decimal point counts — and it shows just how competitive and progressive sport horse breeding in New Zealand has become.

Congratulations to Gloriann Mullen and Wembleybrook Sport Horses on being named Leading Breeder of the Tour.

07/03/2026

Breeder Perspective:

🌱 Why Register & Participate?

Being part of SPANZ and the Warmblood Association gave me:
• Access to professional assessment
• Clear, educated feedback
• Breeding validation
• Market credibility
• Networking opportunities
• And confidence in my direction

If you’re breeding sport horses — even without flashy pedigrees — I strongly encourage you to register and take advantage of these tours.

The feedback alone is invaluable.

Breeding isn’t just about producing foals.
It’s about producing quality, purpose, and horses that carry a story.

And sometimes… miracles. ✨

05/03/2026

Breeder Perspective:

🎯 My Breeding Goal

I am aiming to produce quality dilute sport horses ideally over 16hh — something not always easy to find in New Zealand.

I’m not trying to breed the next Olympic superstar.

I want to breed:
✔ Lovely temperaments
✔ Sensible, easy-to-handle horses
✔ Horses that can sit in the paddock for weeks and still hack out quietly
✔ But with the ability to go up the levels if their rider chooses

When I explained this to Matthias, he said from what he saw in Amari and Zion — that is exactly what I am producing.

That sentence alone made the entire journey worthwhile.

03/03/2026

Breeder perspective:

💬 What Meant the Most

Matthias was extremely impressed with their temperament and handling. He commented that he doesn’t often see foals so well behaved and correctly presented at their ages.

He even complimented my handling — especially allowing them enough lead to use their heads naturally rather than restricting them.

For someone who didn’t grow up in a “horsey” family and has learned everything along the way — that feedback meant more than the percentages.

01/03/2026

🌟 Amari – Merit Award 79.5%

Amari was the star of the day.

Conformation: 80% (8s across the board)
Movement: 79%
• Only 7 was in trot
• 8s for the rest

Comments:
• Feminine type
• Good proportions
• Good walk
• Active, uphill canter
• Would like more reach in trot

A Merit Award — and validation that we are heading in the right direction.

27/02/2026

Breeder perspective:

⭐ Zion – 76.25% Overall

Conformation: 75%
• 7 for head
• 8 for hindquarters
• 7.5 for the rest

Movement: 77.5%
• 7.5 walk
• 7.5 trot
• 8 canter
• 8 for correctness, swing & elasticity

Just shy of the 78% Merit mark.

Matthias described him as:
• Masculine type
• Lean body
• Slightly deep-set neck
• Good hindquarters
• Good uphill canter
• Would like more reach in walk and trot

Constructive. Clear. Valuable.

25/02/2026

🐴 Why I Entered the Foal Tour

Amari (a palomino yearling filly) is registered with SPANZ and eligible for the tour. Zion (a chestnut weanling c**t, 25% WB) is registered with the Warmblood Association.

I chose to have them assessed by German judge Matthias Werner not because I expected huge scores — but because I wanted honest, professional feedback.

My goal? To see whether my breeding vision is actually producing what I aim for.