The Thoroughbreds In Equestrian Sports (TiES) Series was established to incentivise thoroughbred ownership in the competitive equine community and this season’s TiES Showjumping Accumulator winner Luce Williams thinks it is nailing the brief.

There was over $76,000 from the 1% fund on offer to eligible competitors across five disciplines this season with Williams saying the sponsorship is raising the profile of thoroughbreds as sport horses.

“It is awesome how New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ) are working together to promote thoroughbreds,” Williams said. “It’s great for the thoroughbred industry and the people that give these horses another home. They all need that opportunity and thoroughbreds do give people a lot of fun.”

Williams, who lives on Grassendale, a 1250 hectare farm on the east coast of the Wairarapa, and her eight-year-old Reliable Man gelding Grassendale Enzo claimed the 2023/24 TiES Jumping Accumulator title.

She purchased the striking grey, who was unplaced in two starts, as a three-year-old after he caught her eye when scrolling through Facebook.

“I’ve always got thoroughbreds off the track,” Williams explained. “I saw a photo of Enzo on Facebook where someone had got him off the track way up north. He was jumping a log and was about five logs higher than he needed to be. I thought he looked amazing.”

William’s initial impression was spot on and despite unknowingly purchasing a horse with a wind issue, they have gone on to considerable success including the award of Top Performed Thoroughbred at this year’s Land Rover Horse of the Year.

“From the first ride at home I noticed he had a wind issue,” Williams said. “I was really gutted at the time but to be honest it hasn’t affected him in the show jumping world and not many people have noticed.”
Williams is no stranger to educating off the track thoroughbreds and has always employed a strengths-based model, working a horse towards what it shows natural ability for and finding a home that matches accordingly.

“I’ve had a lot of thoroughbreds and over the years I have trained them towards what they have been good at,” Williams said. “I’ve done dressage, eventing, hunting and I even sold one as a family horse as he was so quiet that all the kids could ride him and he became a pet.”

Williams is a big fan of thoroughbreds and has a simple criteria when selecting one.

“I like a natural cadence,” she said. “I like them to be able to move and if they have that natural movement from the start they tend to have that elasticity and athleticism.

“I absolutely love a thoroughbred’s trainability. They are the kind of horse that never says no, you generally only have to ask them once or twice. 

“They just pick things up so quickly, they are so forgiving and also giving. They all have different natures and I love their energy.”

“We don’t have an arena so I do all my schooling and lateral work as I’m riding them on the farm. Particularly for thoroughbreds, depending how old they are, I will turn them out for six months and then do just farm riding for a year.

“It is good for their strength. They are all turned out in the winter without rugs or shoes on really steep hills. I think it keeps them fit and is so good for their natural balance and core strength.”

When it comes to Enzo, Williams said it is his reactive nature that allows him to shine in the showjumping ring.

“He is a real drama queen, so I think that sensitivity is what makes him so good over show jumps,” she said. “He doesn’t want to touch the jumps and he doesn’t want to get told off. At home he is dead quiet but as soon as you get to a show, he loves his job.

“His character is so loveable and he’s always making us laugh. I don’t think people realise the great personalities thoroughbreds can have. They love people and just want to be around them.”

Williams has been sharing the ride with her 14-year-old daughter Sofia who will aim at the young rider classes on Enzo next season.

“I am really proud that my daughter has stepped up to ride him and he has been awesome for her too,” Williams said. “We’ll aim to give Sofia some experience at the young rider height next season and for me to consolidate the 1.35-1.40m heights with the possibility of competing in the Lady Rider class at Horse of the Year.”

Williams said the second career sponsorship, such as the TiES series, plays a major role in promoting the versatility of the breed.

Their success in the equestrian community is even crossing over to breeding programmes with people realising that thoroughbreds carry many of the ideal traits they are looking for.

“I think that what NZTR are doing is making a difference because you are promoting thoroughbreds in every discipline and that is making people really think about thoroughbreds a bit more,” she said. 

“You would not believe how many people are using thoroughbred mares to cross with Warmblood stallions because the mix is so good.”