The Crusaders’ famous horses are returning to the sidelines, just weeks after the team announced they were being retired for good.
Last month, the Crusaders said the horses would no longer be part of match days. The reason for this change was their new home, One New Zealand Te Kaha Stadium. The team cited safety concerns, saying the confined layout around the field left no safe space for the horses to operate.
Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge described the decision as deeply emotional. “This is a decision that really hurts because the horses have been part of who we are from the very beginning,” he said.
But this week, horses were spotted galloping across the turf at One NZ Stadium, with flags flying and Conquest of Paradise playing over the loudspeakers. It was a sight many fans thought they would never see at the new venue.
The horses have been a beloved part of Crusaders match days for 30 years. Before retiring them, the team looked into several options to keep the tradition alive, including turf protection, new flooring in the horse tunnel, specialised rugs, and changes to camera positions.
