Melissa Galloway, New Zealand's FEI Dressage Challenge team, and para dressage rider Louise Duncan were amongst the recipients of the Hall of Fame Awards hosted at Equestrian Sports New Zealand’s 75th Anniversary Dinner.
The Dinner was held in the Banquet Hall at Parliament Buildings on 27 June 2025. Approximately 260 guests celebrated 75 years of equestrian sports in New Zealand since the organisation’s inception as the Horse Society of New Zealand on 14 July, 1950.
Hall of Fame Awards
This year’s awards were presented along with the latest Hall of Fame inductees, and others who have made an outstanding contribution to ESNZ and the sport during the past years, were announced.
Special guests included founder of the Catwalk Trust Dame Catriona Williams and husband Sam, ESNZ Patron Jennifer Millar, former ESNZ CEOs Justine Kidd, Vicki Glynn and Dana Kirkpatrick now National MP (Gisborne), Sport NZ Relationship Manager Karin Adlinger-Smith and Group General Manager Strategy, Policy and Investment Julie Morrison, NZ Pony Club CEO Lizzie Turnbull and Riding for the Disabled CEO Donna Kennedy.
Riders from throughout the ages, including Olympians Blyth Tait and Tinks Pottinger, took part in a series of “fireside chats” to reflect on the past 75 years of equestrian sports.
Dressage riders took centre stage at the Dinner as they claimed the majority of the awards this year:
Award Winners
2025 ESNZ RIDER OF THE YEAR: Melissa Galloway
Marlborough rider Melissa represented NZL at the Olympic Games 2024, on the only Southern Hemisphere and New Zealand bred horse in the field of 60 competitors.
Paige Fitzgerald
Helen Hughes-Keen (Chef d’Equipe), Katy Payne (Dragonbach Master Reilly), Paige Fitzgerald (Greenmoor Euphoria), Amanda Macpherson (Friden Star) and Samantha Belsham (Dolcetto II). This national team of members were placed 1st, 5th,11th and 16th in the world, where there were up to 107 starters. Their training and focus demonstrated excellent work as individuals, leading up to the event, as they were named just one day before the competition, in line with the competition rules.
2025 ESNZ AGAINST ALL ODDS: Louise Duncan (Para-Equestrian)
At age 17, Levin rider Louise contracted the potentially-fatal disease of meningitis, suffered a stroke and was left partially paralysed. She was told she would never ride again but her determination led her to overcome that fate against all odds. Louise fought back and went on to become an FEI grade IV para-equestrian (profile 26a) which recognises severe impairment or deficiencies of both limbs or moderate impairment in all four limbs. Louise and her horse Showcase BC represented NZ at the 2024 Paris Paralympics and finished 13thin the Individual Grand Prix. They also won Champion & Reserve National Para Dressage Champion at the Webb Equestrian Para Dressage Nationals.
2025 ESNZ GROOM OF THE YEAR: Madison Schollum
Based in West Auckland, Madi has devoted four years of her career to Team Williamson, a facility co-owned by Grand Prix Dressage Rider Wendi Williamson and husband Jon. There are 30 horses, with 15 in active training. Madi is herself a successful international rider, and understands well the physical demands of caring for horses in high-level training.
From Canterbury, Paige and Greenmoor Euphoria are winners of the 2025 Dressage Pony of the Year and National Title Trophy at Horse of the Year, and the FEI Dressage Pony Challenge at the Bates National Championships. Paige has also set the standard for the Youth section of the FEI Dressage World Challenge Youth World Rankings where she was ranked 2nd in 2022 and 2023, and 1st in 2024. Paige will represent the Dressage Youth Council at the 2025 Dressage Conference this weekend.
2025 ESNZ HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS FOR 2025
Sue Hobson
Gill Usher
Related Links
New Zealand's Melissa Galloway Sells Olympic Dream Maker, Windermere J'Obei W
Christine Weal Appointed New Zealand's High Performance Dressage Manager
Fitzgerald, Crake, Belsham, Williamson Win 2025 New Zealand Dressage Championships