Wendi Williamson and Don Vito MH have again underlined their status as New Zealand’s top onshore combination after securing back to back Dressage Horse of the Year crowns.

The environmental geologist and her 13-year-old won the Harrison Lane FEI Grand Prix with 71.022%, the Harrison Lane Grand Prix Special on 72.341% and the Harrison Grand Prix Musical Freestyle with 74.78%.

“I thought the freestyle was really good and would have been higher than what we got in Melbourne in December and the other scores were overall a little lower than normal but it is a bit of a buzz to win the title,” said Wendi. “When you have a horse at Grand Prix you want to be the best as can be in New Zealand this title is definitely the goal and very special to win.”

It’s not the first time she has nabbed it, having previously won the crown in 2024 with Don Vito MH and in 2019 with his full brother Don Amour MH.

Don Vito has won all there is to win in the Southern Hemisphere with some “petty good” scores and now Wendi has the 2026 World Champs in her sights.

“Dressage really needs a team at the World Champs with the Los Angeles Olympic Games the goal, so we need as many at Grand Prix level as we can get.”

She’s contemplating heading back to Sydney to compete but says everything is around what is best for the horse and keeping him as sound as possible for Aachen.

Back in the competitive arena at Hoy was 2022 World Champs representative Gaylene Lennard aboard Jax Johnson, who were reserve to Wendi, with James Blackwood aboard Aphrodite third and Nicola Sweney and Flute Noir fourth overall in their first CDI start. 

Results: Wendi Williamson (Waimauku) Don Vito MH 1; Gaylene Lennard (Te Aroha) Jax Johnson 2; James Blackwood (Masterton) Aphrodite 3.