Lucy Scott  (Manawatu) – Chairperson, Judges Training

Lucy Scott is a Working Equitation rider, coach, and judge based in the Horowhenua region. She has been competing in Working Equitation since 2018, progressing through the levels to Novice.

Lucy has played a key role in the development of Working Equitation in New Zealand through her work with Working Equitation New Zealand. She has been a committee member since 2022 and currently serves as Chairperson. She is also President of the Manawatu group and a member of the Kapiti group.

Her contributions extend to the ongoing development of the sport’s structure and standards, including involvement in rulebook development and refinement, and the creation of judge education pathways and clinics. She is particularly passionate about building a sustainable and accessible framework for both riders and officials as the sport continues to grow nationally.

Lucy is a qualified veterinarian and veterinary behaviourist, with a special interest in the interaction between physical and behavioural wellbeing in horses. She brings a strong welfare-focused perspective to the sport, with a commitment to promoting ethical training, sound horsemanship, and positive horse-rider partnerships. She is particularly interested in supporting the continued development of the sport’s structures, education pathways, and accessibility as it grows nationally.

Philippa Fourie (North Waikato & Franklin) – Vice Chairperson. Philippa rides with North Waikato and Franklin WE Clubs and has come from competing in eventing, show jumping and show hunter. Philippa also works full time in a management role with Fonterra. She has many years of governance experience so brings a variety of useful skills to the committee.

Andrea Hammond (Bay of Plenty) – Secretary, Website & Membership.  I entered my first WE show in 2021 because it sounded like a heap of fun – and it was! Since then, I’ve been involved in getting WE Bay of Plenty up and running, learning more about the sport and meeting some amazing like-minded people. I’m excited for the future of WE in New Zealand, and personally look forward to progressing with my homebred mare Twigalicious.

Janine Van Der Horst (Bay of Plenty) – Super Treasurer and Highpoints. Having started Working Equitation in 2023, I became involved in the BOP group, mostly in the event Secretary (+ extras) role, I have ridden all my life, predominantly in dressage. Based in Awakeri, Whakatane and hooked on WE!

Jody Hartstone. Based in the mighty Waikato, Jody is an amazing champion for Working Equitation. Jody Hartstone is a NZ Representative Grand Prix rider and coach specializing in Equitation Science. She owns a Lusitano Stud Farm in Raglan and dreams of competing at Masters level for New Zealand.

Paulina Mudgway (Kapiti) Judges Training. I found Working Equitation 5 or 6 years ago and immediately fell in love with the sport and the ethos I found around the training. I qualified as a judge early in 2022, went to a WE judge training event in the UK and formalised the Kapiti Working Equitation Group Inc later that year. I have ridden eventing, dressage, polo and side saddle. I continue to challenge myself by coaching and riding Working Equitation. My career in IT and project management will bring skills to the WENZ committee that can further the education of both judges and riders.

Maggie Lees (Bay of Plenty) I have been crazy about horses all my life, I didn’t start riding properly until high school when I finally got a horse. I was super determined & loved eventing, I spent a couple of years as a working pupil with Sally Dalrymple, I learnt so much. I continued eventing for a number of years riding & selling horses for others and myself. It was great fun and always exciting. I also started horses for people, but was definitely different from most of the others out there. My priorty was to develop happy, relaxed horses. I loved doing this & learnt so much about how they thought, learnt and trusted. I then spent over 6 years in Holland. I learnt so much, about what I didn’t want as well as what I did and was lucky enough to train with an amazing lady Geerteke, who made me think more about the why, with the horses & working together with them. Coming back to NZ I have continued to learn more about how horses think, survive and react and developing as much as I can as a rider & trainer. I love sharing this knowledge & coaching people & horses. My lovely Coloured boy 14yr old ESKER LAD, aka Scooby I have ridden since he was 7yrs. We did Dressage, show Hunter before I found W.E. We both enjoy the sport, it’s super fun & encourages all the things I like in my riding & training with developing relaxed happy horses, which is what I like, so it feels like a match made on heaven. I’m looking forward to helping WE grow & see it encouraging all riders to grow & learn more about this sport. Looking forward to seeing you all out there having fun.

Pamela Thompson (Central Otago)  I was first introduced to Working Equitation in 2011 in Victoria, Australia. I instantly fell in love with the sport in love with the sport, and started to introduce it to my friends in Southland, and founded Southland Working Equitation. After moving up to Otago, I organized some practice shows, and ran the first Otago Winter Series. A group of us traveled up to Christchurch regularly and competed in Sarah Blackburns shows. I took a break from riding altogether from 2021.

After purchasing my dream horse 2 years ago, I have regained my love of the sport, it’s so great to see how much things have developed in the time I’ve been away. This past season I’ve been enjoying competing, course designing/building and judging.

I’m really looking forward to seeing the sport develop further in this country, and would like to help in this journey by being a committee member.