Equestrian

Karolin van Onna and her friend had dreamt about horse trekking the length of the South Island for years - and last summer they finally did it.

Summer at a sportsground in Hawkes Bay means the thud of hooves and the knock of mallets under the hot summer sun. 

An animal rights organisation says Sir Mark Todd's hitting a horse with a tree branch nine times amounts to cruelty, and a four-month ban is a slap on the wrist.

The Waiuku company making fence posts from used plastics has expanded into vineyards, is doubling its production capacity, wants to build a South Island plant and is exporting to Australia.

World number two Tim Price heads a group of four New Zealand riders and their horses to compete at the Kentucky three day equestrian event starting on Friday.

One of the country's most decorated Olympic athletes, Blyth Tait, has called time on his international equestrian career, announcing his retirement from all eventing.

Defending champion Tim Price concedes he "might be a little bit mad" competing with three horses at the Burghley Horse Trials but says his trio of horses all ready to go.

The two-time Olympic champion Sir Mark Todd has announced his retirement from equestrian.

Waiuku-based company Future Post blends granulated soft plastics with chipped up milk bottles to produce sturdy recyclable fence posts.

Tim Price has added another top trophy to his cabinet, winning the Luhmuhlen Horse Trials in Germany.

Defending champion Jonelle Price has been forced to withdraw from this week's Badminton trial because of an injury to her horse.

The World Equestrian Games in rural North Carolina are poised to kick off just as Hurricane Florence barrels towards the United States southeast coast.