Auckland firm to run NZ’s Horse of the Year Show

Auckland-based SMC Events will be responsible for staging New Zealand’s biggest equestrian event, the Farmlands Horse of the Year Show, for the next five years.

Expressions of interest from 12 event management firms were assessed by an independent sub-committee comprising Equestrian Sports New Zealand chief executive Vicki Glynn; Hawke’s Bay chartered accountant John Palairet; Chris Simpson, of the event consulting firm IMECO; Horse of the Year board chairwoman Cynthia Bowers; and board members Jim Ellis, Richard Dee and Cindy Mitchener.

Bowers said SMC Events stood out because of its experience in running large-scale annually recurring events. It was well resourced and had an experienced team, she said.

The five-year contract has a five-year right of renewal, subject to performance.

SMC Events are answerable to the HOY board, which has set key performance indicators.

Bowers said the expectation was that the board would not be involved in day-to-day management-type issues.

“It is exciting they are willing to enter into a risk-sharing contract with us, which is why we needed a company with strong financial capability and a long-term track record of managing successful major events,” she said.

The Horse of the Year board had commissioned a review which highlighted that while the event was good, there was “significant unrealised potential”.

The show was run for the last 18 years by Event Pro’s Kevin Hansen.

SMC Events step into its new role on June 1, with an equestrian competition manager likely to be appointed by the end of August.

The Horse of the Year Show would become one of SMC’s biggest events, alongside the Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon and ASB Polyfest, which attracts 90,000 spectators over four days.