Equifest

Equifest showcases all things equine, in a way that inspires, connects, and powers the industry.

03/06/2026

A quick update from the Equifest team! 🤠🐴
We have made a small adjustment to our ticket on-sale date and VIP & Supporters Weekend Pass tickets will now be available from 10am Monday 8 June.

Why the change? We're putting the finishing touches on something pretty exciting for one of our Nightshows, and we can't wait to share it with you! We're also finalising our 2026 merchandise, which is included in our VIP and Supporters Passes, so we want to make sure everything is ready before tickets go live.

Over the coming days we'll be sharing more details about our ticket packages, what's included, and all the extras to help you plan your ultimate Equifest experience.

01/06/2026

Returning to Equifest for the first time since our very first event, we’re excited to welcome back Ben Longwell! 🐴🇺🇸

Originally from Colorado, Ben grew up working on ranches and as an assistant trainer at a Quarter Horse breeding and training facility before he and his wife Natalie moved to a 300,000-acre ranch in northern Wyoming. It was there that Ben not only worked extensively with horses, but also discovered his passion for teaching people.

Ben and Natalie later spent 11 years living in New Zealand, building their full-time horse training and clinic business. During that time, Ben worked with thousands of horses, taught a wide range of highly regarded clinics and wrote articles for equestrian publications around the world.

Now based in Oregon, USA, Ben continues his mission of helping dedicated students of horsemanship develop practical skills and better communication with their horses. He has taught at some of the largest Equine Expos across the United States and is well known for his knowledgeable, practical, and encouraging teaching style.

Ben’s clinics will cover practical stockmanship, Vaquero traditions and tools, herd behaviour in group riding, and developing advanced manoeuvres through low-stress cattle work.

31/05/2026

Returning for round two, Joe Gardiner of Gardiner Equestrian is joining us again at Equifest 2026! 🐴✨

Get ready for more of Joe’s crowd-favourite fun, entertainment, and horsemanship that’s guaranteed to keep audiences captivated!

Joe's career with horses is anything but ordinary. From the glittering lights of the Australian Outback Spectacular on the Gold Coast to the awe-inspiring global stage of Cavalia, Joe has spent years performing in world-class equine productions across China, America, and Europe.

Now based on the Sunshine Coast in Australia, Joe balances his professional horse training business with his passion for entertainment through Laughing Stock Productions.

During his Equifest sessions, Joe will uncover the basics of trick riding for both horse and rider, giving audiences an exciting insight into the skills, trust, and training behind the performance world.

30/05/2026

Keeping rolling with our international educator announcements! Next up, we’re excited to welcome Maddy Whitford of .equestrian to Equifest 🇦🇺🐴

Maddy is a horse trainer specialising in behaviour-focused horsemanship and groundwork that transfers into ridden work. Much of her work centres around what she calls “end of the line horses”, horses often labelled difficult, dangerous, shut down, or beyond help.

Her approach focuses on understanding behaviour as communication, helping both horses and humans rebuild clarity, confidence, and connection through feel, timing, and emotional regulation rather than fear or control.

Through her online training library, educational content, and hands-on work, Maddy teaches horse owners how to better read their horses and create training that leads to calmer, safer, and more willing partnerships.

Maddy’s sessions at Equifest are sure to inspire riders and horse owners of all levels, offering practical tools, a deeper understanding, and a fresh perspective on horsemanship.

29/05/2026

HERE IT IS! Our first international educator announcement for Equifest 2026! And we’re kicking it off with none other than Australia’s Brett Parbery of Performance Riders 🇦🇺🐴

Making his first-ever appearance at Equifest, Brett will present a public educational session on Saturday, followed by an exclusive, separately ticketed Dressage Showcase Masterclass in the afternoon.

Born into a devoted horse family in Dorrigo, NSW, Brett Parbery grew up training cattle horses with his father. In 1998, Brett transitioned to dressage and quickly set his sights on the world stage.

Brett’s competitive pinnacle came in 2010, riding Victory Salute, placing 10th in the World Cup Final and 8th at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. A 4x Australian Grand Prix Champion with over 30 national titles, Brett represented Australia at the 2010 and 2018 World Games. He narrowly missed Olympic selection in 2008 and 2016 due to misfortune, but served as the Dressage Coach for the Australian Eventing Team at the 2012 London Olympics.

We can't wait to have Brett in New Zealand. More details and ticket information coming soon!

28/05/2026

Calling all supporters 🐴✨
Help us choose the design for 2026.

Do you love the nod to the Year of the Fire Horse? Prefer a classic logo design? Or are you all about something bold?

Vote for your favourite design by:
👍 Giving it a like
❤️ Reacting with love
🥰 Showing you care
😮 Or giving it a wow

You can also tell us your favourite in the comments below, or your previous years' favourites! Everyone who votes will automatically go in the draw to WIN an Equifest 2026 merch pack.

08/05/2026

Ok, so we have been a little quiet on socials lately 👀
We have been busy behind the scenes working through exhibitor allocations, planning, and locking in all the exciting things coming your way for Equifest.

In the meantime, we couldn’t resist jumping on this trend.

17/02/2026

Embrace the Year of the Fire Horse! 🐴🔥
Today we welcome the Lunar New Year and the powerful energy of the Fire Horse.

It is suggested that the Fire Horse years unite two dynamic forces, the blazing passion of fire and the unstoppable momentum of the horse. Together, they symbolise bold movement, fierce independence, courage, and transformative change.

At Equifest, we celebrate the spirit of the horse, strength, partnership, freedom, and forward motion. May this Fire Horse year ignite your purpose, fuel your ambitions, and carry you boldly toward new horizons.

Happy Lunar New Year! 🎊🐎
📸 Equifest Nightshows

16/02/2026

🎤🐴 “We would just like to say… WOW!”
We have been completely blown away by the incredible support following our announcement and move to Hamilton! The messages, shares, comments and pure excitement have meant the world to us.

If this is the energy already, Equifest 2026 is going to be something truly special! ✨

We can’t wait to start sharing lots of exciting updates with you over the coming weeks. From our small team… thank you for being part of the journey. 🤍🎉

12/02/2026

Thank you Kelly Wilson for sharing this 🙌
It’s exciting to see the scale and flexibility of Claudelands Events Centre. We’re looking forward to bringing our Equifest community together in the Indoor Arena for our much-loved Nightshows.

Address

Corner Of Brooklyn Road And Heaphy Terrace Claudelands
Hamilton
3214

Website

http://www.equifest.co.nz/

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