The Crusaders say they\u2019ve tried their \u2018absolute best\u2019 to accommodate the team\u2019s horses at their new home ground, the One New Zealand Stadium, but have decided to retire the pre-match experience, citing safety concerns.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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<\/a> said that this vision has been achieved but added that because of the limited space\u00a0around\u00a0the field, the\u00a0six\u00a0horses would not have been able to avoid the\u00a0playing surface,\u00a0compromising\u00a0their own safety, the condition of the turf and creating potential injury risks for players and others in the venue.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile 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 \u2013 leading to the incredibly difficult decision to retire the Crusaders horses,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n This decision was reached after an \u2018extensive planning and assessment\u2019 ahead of the side\u2019s Super Rugby Pacific<\/a> debut at the ground against the Waratahs on April 24.<\/p>\n \u201cThis 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,\u201d Crusaders Chief Executive Colin Mansbridge said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve tried our absolute best to make this work, and we want our Crusaders wh\u0101nau to know we have left no stone unturned. Ultimately, safety must come first, even when the emotional cost is high.\u201d<\/p>\n Wallabies star reveals how he \u2018struggled getting in and out of the car\u2019 after gruelling 2025 campaign<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe have been through everything with the Crusaders.\u201d<\/p>\n The statement adds that \u2018significant time, money and effort were invested in exploring ways to keep the horses as part of the matchday experience\u2019.<\/p>\n However, the constraints of the new stadium meant that the safety concerns outweighed the continuation of the tradition that started back in 1996.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe infrastructure at the new stadium is simply not compatible with the Crusaders\u2019 horses which is incredibly disappointing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have been through everything with this team. From the earthquakes, then the mosque attack and Covid. The Crusaders mean everything to us; we aren\u2019t just guys who ride horses around a field, we are an important part of this club, and this is what hurts the most.<\/p>\n \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Damian McKenzie facing \u2018conundrum\u2019 as ex-All Black hails the emergence of New Zealand\u2019s rookie playmakers<\/a><\/p>\n CEO Mansbridge, added: \u201cWe\u2019re 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\u2019ll 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.\u201d<\/p>\n