Horse of the Year

Today I want to pay special attention to a family in Hawke’s Bay who have given their time, commitment and vision to achieve an outstanding regional result. I refer to the Hansen family who have taken a small horse event to the current international status as the Horse of the Year.

Last weekend we saw a spectacular extravaganza that any city would be proud to host. The five-day event saw thousands of horses and ten of thousands of spectators and riders. The weather was perfect and the people who went could not but be thrilled with what they saw.

This is in stark contrast to the fledgling beginnings where the Hansen family had a dream. Kevin and Warwick Hansen are icons associated with the event, but all other members of the wider family are equally involved. This family has managed to gather around it a core of dedicated and hardworking volunteers. These people are exactly the reason why the event has been secured in the region for the next 6 years. You can build the flashest arena with the newest of equipment but if you don’t have the volunteers and the passion, then all is for nothing.

So I want to salute the Hansen family and all of those involved in the Horse of the Year. Hastings and Hawke’s Bay have been put on the map and we have a small group of dedicated people and some major sponsors to thank.

This is no different from the Art Deco Celebrations or the Waitangi Day celebrations at Clive. This is what makes any community special. We all have busy work and family lives, yet some people go the extra mile for us all.

To those who do this, especially the hardworking folk at the Horse of the Year, I just want to thank you. Last weekend was special in Hawke's Bay and reinforced, for many, the reason we live here.

Those are my thoughts.

I’m Lawrence Yule.