EqWE CHAIRMAN

Retired Veterinarian based in Taupo, having practiced in the area for 40 years.  Tony is the Veterinary Advisor to Equestrian Sport New Zealand (ESNZ) with extensive involvement in sport horses, including New Zealand Team Vet up to Olympic and World Equestrian Games level, International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Head Veterinarian for New Zealand and FEI Official Veterinarian up to World Equestrian Games and Asian Games level. FEI Official Veterinarian Course Director. 

Tony is a New Zealand Horse Ambulance Trust trustee and a New Zealand Equine Health Association board member. Fisherman, boatie, horse owner and traveller with an active interest in dairy farming.

NZEHA REPRESENTATIVE

Hillary has been involved with horses her whole life, starting out on the farm in the Waikato with ponies, breeding Clydesdales and working horses, followed by pony club, show jumping, and the racing industry while working at breeding farms in the Manawatu. More recently, becoming involved in ranch horse/western through her children's interests. 

A desire to work in the equine industry led her to complete a Bachelor of AgriScience Equine (1st class Hons) at Massey University where she was awarded the Equine Student of the Year. Hillary now works for the NZEHA on the National Equine Identification and Traceability (NEIT) project, and the administrator for the EqWE group as well as recently becoming the secretary for New Zealand Equine Research Foundation.

Chris obtained his PhD from Massey University and then was a Huygens Post-Doctoral fellow at Utrecht University, the Netherlands.  After completion of the Post-Doctoral appointment, Chris then returned to take up a position within the School of Veterinary Science at Massey University, New Zealand. 

Chris is currently the New Zealand Equine Trust Chair in Equine Health Welfare and Performance and holds editorial board positions on six of the leading Veterinary and Animal Science Journals.   Professor Rogers’ research interests include an eclectic mix of equine biomechanics, equine exercise physiology & nutrition, equine industry epidemiology, and equestrian sport. His programme of research and teaching has been pivotal in providing the background knowledge needed to describe and improve equine production in New Zealand and internationally.  In NZ and internationally this work has formed the reference data for the codes of welfare for the horse, policy statements on 2-year-old racing and welfare guidelines for working horses.

NZEHA EPIDEMIOLOGIST

Sarah Rosanowski is an internationally respected epidemiologist who has been involved in scientific research relating to the equine industry in the both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.  She has worked on equine health- and welfare-related projects in the UK, Ireland, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. She enjoys translating research evidence into actions and impacts to improve the health and welfare of horses. 

Sarah undertook her PhD at Massey University, and this research informed the Government Industry Agreement regarding the control of equine influenza in New Zealand in the event of a disease incursion.  She did post-doctoral research at the Royal Veterinary College in London investigating risk mitigation in racing. She has held academic posts at Massey University, City University of Hong Kong, and currently holds an honorary appointment at the University of Melbourne.

NZPCA REPRESENTATIVE

Lizzie was appointed the CEO of the New Zealand Pony Club Association in July 2023. She has a lifelong dedication to equestrianism, always having ponies and horses as part of her life.  Her experience includes fostering youth development and taking leading roles within Pony Club and equestrian groups in Tauranga and Jakarta. Transitioning from competition, she is now beginning her role as a dressage judge.

Lizzie also supports her daughter’s dressage activities. Lizzie and New Zealand Pony Clubs are committed to promoting education of horse welfare and ethical equestrian practices.

TE HAPORI HŌIHO REPRESENTATIVE

Growing up in Ruatoria it was all about horses, horses and more horses, bareback riding and hooning everywhere. This was the only mode of transport for growing tamariki. Winky is an FEI dressage judge and breeder of top New Zealand sport horses. Winky has had a long association with breeding top quality horses, through running Kahukuri Bloodstock, who bred many successful racehorses, both Thoroughbred and Standardbred, and successful sporthorses. 

Winky is also involved with Te Hapori Hōiho, the National Māori Horse Association Aotearoa Trust.

ESNZ REPRESENTATIVE

Marlborough rider Heidi Bulfin is the Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ) Community Manager for Horse and Human Wellbeing.  This role sits across all disciplines for both competition and recreation.  Part of the role encompasses ensuring good guidelines are in place for horse welfare and that we are also on top of our game when it comes to social licence.

Heidi has ridden in the discipline of CTR and Endurance for many years and is also an FEI (International) Judge, Technical Delegate and Steward for Endurance

NZ VULNERABLE ROAD USERS CHARITABLE TRUST

Julia is focused on improving road safety outcomes for our most vulnerable road users walkers, cyclists and equestrians- and brought the Pass Wide and Slow road safety message to New Zealand in 2024 and is now the founder and chair of the New Zealand Vulnerable Road User Charitable Trust.

The Trust is focused on advocacy, education and making high visibility gear affordable and accessible to those on foot, two wheels or horseback with the aim of reducing death and serious injury on our roads.  

Before coming to NZ Will worked in a wide range of equine positions including managing a horse stable, cowboying, starting and training horses (both domestic and mustangs), farriery, and running mule trains. After coming to NZ, WIll kept starting and training horses here on high country stations and a thoroughbred farm. 

After becoming a lawyer, Will worked with a large national corporate law firm, for the Ministry for Primary Industries and for a large NZ conservation organisation. 

Will still rides and trains horses and is currently involved with cutting, reining, and rodeo. Despite Will's current equine interests he has an understanding of many other equine disciplines having competed at low level ODE and showjumping and partaken in NZ hunting. Will currently sits on the New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association's Board as its Director of Animal Welfare.  

CANZ ANIMAL WELFARE MANAGER

Nicola McDonald is a registered veterinarian with more than 18 years of experience across rural practice. She holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the University of Copenhagen, New Zealand National Veterinary Examination qualification (NZNVE), and a business management certificate. After beginning her career in large animal practice with a strong focus on equine medicine, and later operating her own equine veterinary dentistry clinic, Nicola transitioned into animal welfare, where she now serves as Animal Welfare Manager for Companion Animals NZ. In this role, she leads community engagement projects in equine microchipping and education through training videos and written resources, while collaborating with local councils, veterinarians, researchers, and industry partners to promote evidence-based welfare outcomes.

Between 2013 and 2021, Nicola served on the Dressage Rotorua committee and has enjoyed many adventures with her Thoroughbred, Sammy, and most recently with two young horses. Her approach blends hands-on veterinary experience with evidence-based practice and a genuine passion for advancing the wellbeing of horses and their guardians.

NZTR REPRESENTATIVE

Justine is the Head of Thoroughbred Welfare and Sustainability for New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing. With extensive experience in both thoroughbred breeding and racing, she combines a hands-on farming perspective with leadership roles in the NZ Thoroughbred Industry, alongside running her own breeding and bloodstock business.

She is dedicated to addressing challenges in Social License, legislation, and public welfare scrutiny. Justine has successfully represented the New Zealand equine industry at regional and national legislative hearings, advocating for welfare, education, traceability, animal health, second careers for thoroughbreds, and fostering positive relationships with government and rural organizations.