Chelsea Callaghan's Sisters II Etta J Retired from Sport

Dressage

New Zealand

New Zealand Grand Prix rider Chelsea Callaghan will be retiring her number one horse, Sisters II Etta J, from competition sport. The pair had its final show ride at the 2026 New Zealand Dressage Championships in Taupo on Saturday 7 March 2026.

Sisters II Etta J is an August 2008 born Friesian x Thoroughbred cross by Zeigfried out of Imam xx (by Zemindar xx) bred by Carole Macarthy in New Zealand. Dam Imam xx was an unraced Thoroughbred, bred in Australia by Dr. D. McCully and at one stage owned by Robyn and Russell Roberts of Kendayla Park in New Zealand.

The black mare is owned and trained from novice to Grand Prix level by Chelsea Callaghan. They began their journey i 2010. They made their international show debut at Grand Prix level in March 2022 at the CDI Taupo. They never travelled abroad for CDI's but stayed on Kiwi turf. In 2023 they showed in Taupo, while in 2024 they rode in Hastings and Taupo. An 18-month break from competition followed before Etta returned to the arena in October 2025 for some national showing.

The New Zealand Nationals in Taupo are contested at CDI level. In 2022 they were third in the GP Special, in 2023 they were 7th in the Grand Prix, in 2024 they placed third in the Special. They skipped the participate in the national championship in 2025 and 2026. This year in Taupo they rode the CDN big tour. They were second in the GP with 60.978%, won the Special with 66.213% and were third in the kur with 66.495%.

Taupo was Sisters II Etta J's swan song.

"Safe to say there weren't too many dry eyes left in the house as we watched Chelsea Callaghan and Sisters II Etta J dance their final Grand Prix Musical Freestyle together, finishing up the centreline to enthusiastic clapping by the crowd," the press team of the Championships reported. "Chelsea's wonderful mare is now 17 years old and heads home to enjoy a happy and well-earned retirement."

Chelsea runs Callaghan Equestrian Centre located in the Ohariu Valley in Wellington, New Zealand. She recently purchased Dutch bred, imported Friesian Jelle fan e’ San Ieren (by Beart 411 x Sape 381) after his owner Baldeep Dhillon passed away in October 2024.