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.

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.

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.

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.

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

PASS WIDE AND SLOW REPRESENTATIVE

Julia has a background in journalism, local government leadership, and community projects. A horse riding accident 16 years ago, which led to a head injury and the loss of her journalism career, profoundly impacted her life.

Three years ago, she returned to riding and, inspired by riders' experiences, led the development of the Vulnerable Road User (VRU) submission. This submission advocates for horse riders to be formally recognized in Transport Legislation, ensuring they receive road safety education, messaging, and infrastructure similar to cyclists. The case is currently before Parliament, with broad support from the equestrian community.

Julia is now focused on road safety and awareness, founding Pass Wide and Slow New Zealand to raise awareness and advocate for changes to reduce injuries and save lives. She collaborates with local and international stakeholders to improve safety for equestrians on the road.

Natalie (Nat) is an internationally recognized animal behaviour and welfare scientist based in New Zealand. She holds a first-class Zoology degree from Glasgow University and a PhD from Cambridge University’s Veterinary School. With over 14 years at the University of Edinburgh, she has held various academic leadership roles, including Professor of Animal Welfare in both NZ and the UK. She is currently Director of the ‘A Good Life for Animals Centre’ at Companion Animals New Zealand.

Appointed Chair of the New Zealand National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee in 2021, Nat also holds honorary professorial roles at several universities. She co-founded equitation science and the International Society for Equitation Science and has led numerous initiatives in equine welfare. She is particularly known for her expertise in companion animal and equine welfare, publishing extensively on these topics over the past 25+ years.

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.

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.