The Crusaders say they’ve tried their ‘absolute best’ to accommodate the team’s horses at their new home ground, the One New Zealand Stadium, but have decided to retire the pre-match experience, citing safety concerns.
Earlier this month, the Crusaders played their final game at Apollo Projects Stadium before their move to their new home, the One New Zealand Stadium, a $672 million, multi-use venue.
The new stadium is not built solely for the Crusaders and is designed to bring crowds closer to the action across sport and live entertainment. In a statement from the club on Tuesday, the Crusaders said that this vision has been achieved but added that because of the limited space around the field, the six horses would not have been able to avoid the playing surface, compromising their own safety, the condition of the turf and creating potential injury risks for players and others in the venue.
“While the horses have been much-loved by our fans and a symbolic part of the Crusaders matchday for many years, safety must come first. Due to the design and limited space at One New Zealand Stadium, the horses cannot be safely accommodated – leading to the incredibly difficult decision to retire the Crusaders horses,” the statement read.
This decision was reached after an ‘extensive planning and assessment’ ahead of the side’s Super Rugby Pacific debut at the ground against the Waratahs on April 24.
“This is a decision that really hurts because the horses have been part of who we are from the very beginning, and we know how much they mean to our fans. That feeling of watching them run out in front of a packed crowd, while Conquest of Paradise plays, is a feeling I will never forget,” Crusaders Chief Executive Colin Mansbridge said.
“We’ve tried our absolute best to make this work, and we want our Crusaders whānau to know we have left no stone unturned. Ultimately, safety must come first, even when the emotional cost is high.”
“We have been through everything with the Crusaders.”
The statement adds that ‘significant time, money and effort were invested in exploring ways to keep the horses as part of the matchday experience’.
However, the constraints of the new stadium meant that the safety concerns outweighed the continuation of the tradition that started back in 1996.
Mark Donald, spokesperson for the riding group, says the decision was made under circumstances beyond his control, and he and the rest of the riders are devastated.
“The infrastructure at the new stadium is simply not compatible with the Crusaders’ horses which is incredibly disappointing,” he said.
“We have been through everything with this team. From the earthquakes, then the mosque attack and Covid. The Crusaders mean everything to us; we aren’t just guys who ride horses around a field, we are an important part of this club, and this is what hurts the most.
“We are grateful for the overwhelming support we have received from the community and the Crusaders themselves. After three decades, this is not how we hoped things would end. It hurts to say goodbye to something that has been such a big part of our lives. Our commitment to horsemanship, to our riders, and to the people of Christchurch remains unwavering.”
CEO Mansbridge, added: “We’re incredibly proud of the traditions that have shaped The Crusaders, and the horses will always be a special part of our story. While this decision will take time to sink in, when the time is right, we’ll engage our community on what a new ritual could look like. But for now, we want to recognise what the horses and riders have done for us and our club for three decades. We are working through how to appropriately acknowledge and thank them for their contribution to our club and will confirm this in due course.”
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Fan reaction
The statement concluded that “the club acknowledges this will be disappointing for many supporters and thanks fans for their understanding” and supporters made their feelings heard on social media.
“For me personally, I’m really disappointed by this decision,” one fan commented on Facebook.
Another added: “So this stadium took years to plan, design and build and not one person in that whole process thought whoa, hang on don’t forget the horses. At Apollo we, the paying public, were very close to the action and I don’t recall anyone ever being hurt. Total c**k up all round. Now there is nothing symbolic left to connect our team with their name.”
“First it was their logo and now its this. Destroying their identity one piece at a time,” one supporter remarked on X with that sentiment being a popular one held by many.
While some fans were understanding of the decision, the overriding feeling was one of disappointment.
“The new stadium may be impressive, but it’s astonishing that a project funded by ratepayers managed to overlook something as central to our Canterbury culture as accommodating the beloved horses. To spend so much public money the decision to exclude accommodations for them is not just an oversight — it is a tone-deaf insult that feels careless at best and dismissive at worst,” one comment added.
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