The NZPH System

Like all good businesses we have developed a thoroughly systematic way of thinking about and managing our business. We deal with a unique product – every horse is different – but we believe we can improve our odds of breeding, producing, successfully competing and selling our horses if we understand all the steps in the process and work hard to improve each one.

We believe we succeed in our business because we focus on the right things:

Pedigree | Producing | Performance

We have worked hard over the last fifteen years to develop our understanding of all three elements of success. We have made plenty of mistakes and learned from them and we have been fortunate to have many good people advise us.

In this section of the website we have summarized at a very high level how we think about and what we do to deliver the best possible Pedigree, Producing and Performance for our horses. If we were to write a book about what we do, this would be how we would set it out.

We hope this is helpful for other breeders but mostly we want our partners, the buyers of our horses and those interested in the success of the New Zealand sport horse business to understand a little more of what it takes to produce world-class sport horses in New Zealand – and why we do!

PEDIGREE

The best bloodlines • Foundation mares: NZ thoroughbred blood • Selle Francais fillies • Proven champion bloodlines from SF, Holsteiner, KWPN, BWP and others • Introduction of talented young stallions - being early with the next champion’s progeny on the ground • GFE our partner • Importation protocols Careful selection of crosses • Understanding European warm blood breeding lines • Meticulous breeding records and a great ‘eye’ • Regular introduction of new blood • High AI success rates • Careful following of progeny for many years • Managing dry mares		Technical mastery of all assisted breeding processes • Feeding of mares • Cycling, uterine preparation and ovulation • Timing • Working with frozen semen • Understanding each stallion’s semen • Mares with foals • Understanding young mare breeding Retaining the best mares for breeding • Building scale • Following the foundation mare lines • Assessing mares for breeding • Daughter v Mother

PRODUCING

Looking after mares in foal • Feeding • Scanning • Dealing with in-utero complications: twins, genetic complications, size, position • Mare illness Foaling • Timing • Assisting • Handling and imprinting • The first seven days • The mare and foal herd		The first two years • Hawkes Bay hill-country • Feeding • Handling • Feet • Weaning • ‘Breaking’ • Mares in foal and dry mares • General health and well-being Early training • Natural movement • Developing rhythm, balance, temperament and scope • Flat-work • Free jumping • Early riding and jumping • Horse mind v body

PERFORMANCE

Matching riders to horses • Matching horse and competitive discipline • Innate traits of horses (and riders!) • Getting the incentives right • Learning together Growth and development of young horses • Feeding • Physical health • Mental health Working and training young talent • An annual plan • Dressage rules! • Consistency and variety • Confidence and carefulness • Knowing what you have got		Competing • An annual plan • Travelling • Feeding and general health • Spelling • Fixing faults The Grand Prix horse • Recognising talent • The holy trinity: balance, quickness and scope • The big wide world: competing overseas Sales and marketing • Marketing horses • Selling the right horse to the right rider for the right discipline • When to buy • When to sell • Quality v quantity • Understanding the horse you buy