Here’s hoping there’s a way our horses can crusade on

Tuesday, 21 April 2026

The Crusaders horses strut their stuff before a match against the Bulls in 2012.

Mike Yardley is a Christchurch-based writer and commentator on current affairs, and a regular opinion contributor.

OPINION: Has the horse bolted? Has another proud, symbolic and cherished Crusaders tradition been hastily consigned to the knacker’s yard? Are the horses gone for good?

Not so fast. Since last Tuesday’s bombshell, the resounding fanbase response has been anger, dismay and immense sadness. Many fans feel alienated and betrayed.

And this rupture isn’t going away, regrettably flattening the froth over the Crusaders’ opening game at their shiny new home on Friday.

Many fans – myself included - are not going to take the trampling of a pre-match tradition lying down. They are mobilising. Yes, change.org petitions are dime-a-dozen, but Shem Brokenshire’s viral petition has swiftly amassed thousands of signatures, championing the reinstatement of the horses. Shem is gunning for 10,000 signatures.

Crusaders Horses riding group head Mark Donald tells me it wasn’t until mid-February that they could get inside the stadium for a look. Confronted with significant challenges, he was confident they could be overcome, but it wasn’t to be, with the plug pulled 10 days ago.

“The SKY cameras were going to be in our way and were not able to be moved. We were also not allowed to run on the field of play. The height of the (entry) tunnel was going to be too low and we weren’t given an alternative. The tunnel’s polished concrete was also going to be too slippery for the horses.”

Like other stadium users, the Crusaders franchise confirms it was regularly consulted about its needs and ensured the horses were always part of that conversation. So who has dropped the ball?

Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge tells me “we’re not going to allocate blame publicly”. I believe BESIX Watpac, who designed and constructed One New Zealand Stadium, are primarily responsible for this debacle.

At the time of filing, they have failed to respond to my questions about the “design constraints” – remaining conspicuously silent. Nor has the city council sought to ride to the rescue.

You can normally rely on the Christchurch Mayor to inject himself into pesky problem-solving with his trademark pragmatism. Not this time. Phil Mauger tells me “any decision as to whether the horses are part of the Crusaders’ pre-match entertainment is theirs”.

What’s curious about BESIX Watpac is that it redesigned Suncorp Stadium, where the closest seats to the field are just six metres away. (They’re seven metres at our stadium.) Yet the tight spacing constraints haven’t precluded the Brisbane Broncos from maintaining their long-standing tradition of Buck the real-life horse mascot cantering around the sidelines every time the Broncos score a try.

What about the stadium operator? Venues Ōtautahi (VO) CEO Caroline Harvie-Teare tells me “all options were tabled for Crusaders consideration before they made the decision not to proceed”.

Mike Yardley is hopeful the Crusaders will find a way to have their horses firing up the crowd before home games at One New Zealand Stadium.

She claims VO “have always been supportive of having the horses at One NZ Stadium” and that “will continue into the future, whether relating to the horses or alternative initiatives”.

It is surely beholden on VO to now go out of its way to help tailor a viable, albeit modified, solution for the horses’ matchday appearance. I’ve been engaging with Mansbridge, who is under the cosh and acutely aware of the fanbase opprobrium.

There’s now a cautiously welcome change in tune from Mansbridge, after first announcing “the incredibly difficult decision to retire the Crusaders horses”. I can reveal that he is now leaving the door open.

“What we’re committing to now is thoughtful engagement with our fanbase around what a pre‑match ritual looks like. Whether that includes the horses or not will be considered carefully in due course.”

Donald confirms his riders will work with the franchise “to come up with a solution”. Former Crusaders CEO Hamish Riach tells me he was “stunned by the news” last week. “The horses are as much a part of the Crusaders’ identity as Conquest of Paradise, the jersey and the playing legacy.”

Riach believes that “over the coming weeks they’ll find the way to have them back”. I share his hope.

Colin Mansbridge is a good man. I’m confident he will seek to calm the farm and keep the faith with the fanbase, so that our legendary matchday horses can crusade on.