Sonya Benison Equestrian

11/05/2026

Sad week saying goodbye to both Tommy and Mushroom who have both found such wonderful homes.

I have space for another schooler or SOB PM for more information

Beyond The Bit
Helite Equestrian NZ - Cool Airvests for Every Occasion
Bella Maitland Photography
Equine Mementos
Archers Saddlery

08/05/2026

Horse Lessons • Schooling • Breaking In

Experienced and patient services available.
🐴 Lessons
🐴 Horse Schooling
🐴 Breaking In
🐴 Sale on Behalf
🐴 Catch Rides

Whether you have a young horse needing a solid start to their riding career or want to improve your horse’s performance, I offer calm, consistent training tailored to each horse. I also offer lessons tailored to the horse and rider and what they are wanting to achieve

Reliable, professional, and horse-first approach.

Experience
- NZ High Performance squad
- 3* eventing
- Horse mini Prix SJ
- Starting and Producing Young Horses

📍[Springston, Canterbury]
📞 [PM]
📩 Message for availability and pricing.

05/05/2026

On Behalf of Owner
The Emperor (Tonto)
9-year-old gelding

166cm with official height certificate
Tonto is a beautiful gelding by Kingcaple Lad out of Old Blue (St James Xbred). He has correct flatwork with three lovely paces and has excelled in both the show ring and dressage arena with his current owner. Tonto has competed up to Level 1 dressage with wins and placings, and is currently schooling Level 2/3 movements. He is very consistent in the show ring, regularly winning wide ribbons, with showing being his main focus.

Tonto has also shown talent over jumps. He is schooling 90cm, with plenty of scope and ability to progress up the grades in show jumping or eventing. As he is still green in this area, he will require a confident rider to continue his education.

I’ve been told Tonto is good to shoe, clip, float, truck, and handle in general. He is happy to go out alone or with others. During his time with me, he has been easy to have around and a pleasure to work with. He is the same away from home as he is at home.

Tonto has talent to burn in whichever discipline you choose.

17/04/2026

MF Sweet Temptation
5yr old, mare
15.3-16hh

Bianca is a stunning mare by SP Blue Eyed Ghost out of MF Candi (Centavos). Bianca has an incredible temperament, very willing to learn and wants to please. She is a beautiful athletic horse with lovely movement, who is super brave and oozing talent.

Bianca had a foal as a 3yr and has been given time to develop, be produced correctly and strengthen up. Bianca has started her competition career this season many outings including Show jumping and eventing to 95cm where she has lead both of her eventing starts from start to finish on her dressage scores of 67 and 70%. She has recently won the South Island young event horse best preformed mare and the South Island 4, 5 and 6 yr old class (95cm) eventing. Bianca has good flat work including leg yielding, shoulder in, and lengthening. Bianca is the same at home as she is out.

Bianca is a kind, fun straight forward mare, who is very easy to have around and tries her hardest for her rider. She will turn her head wherever her next venture takes her.

Bianca is good to shoe, float, truck, have around etc. She is happy to be taken out alone or with others. Very easy to have around and do anything with, no vices when ridden alone, in company, paddock, stable.

13/04/2026

SOLD
SB Trumperteer
7yr old, Gelding
16,1hh

Tommy is an eyecatching gelding by Turn me Loose out of a Perfectly Ready mare. Tommy has an incredible temperament, very willing to learn and wants to please. He is a beautiful athletic horse with lovely movement, who is super brave and oozing talent .

Tommy has been off the track for about 2 years and has been taken slowly and given time to let down and strengthen up. Tommy has been taken out to many outings including successfully in both Show jumping to 1m and eventing to 95cm and is ready to step up. Tommy has good flat work including leg yielding, shoulder in, and lengthening. Tommy is the same at home as he is out.

Tommy is a kind, fun straight forward gelding, who is very easy to have around and tries his hardest for his rider. He will turn his head wherever his next venture takes him.

Tommy is good to shoe, float, truck, clip have around etc. He is happy to be taken out alone or with others. Very easy to have around and do anything with, no vices when ridden alone, in company. Does wind suck

Located Christchurch

12/04/2026

Kiwi Glimpse owned by Shelly Vince and Ashleigh Todd

12/04/2026

South Island One Day Event Championships and South island Young Event Horse Championships.

MF Sweet Temptation was exceptional all weekend. Bianca started the weekend off with 3rd in the young event horse class and won the best preformed mare. And lead start to finish in the John Jones Steel 4, 5 & 6 year old 95cm class jumping her first 95cm. Bright future ahead for this beautiful 5 year old mare. Owned by Jo Benison and myself

MF Star Quality also had his first 95cm start in the John Jones Steel 4, 5 & 6 year old 95cm class finishing on his dressage score for 3rd. Owned by Cherie Cournane, Pip Wilson and myself

SB Gung Ho finished on his dressage score in the same class finishing 4th

SB Trumpeteer scored 67% on the flat in the 95cm Prebbleton vets championship to Finnish 2nd on his dressage score.

Kiwi Glimpse had a very good weekend scoring 68% on the flat, jumping double clear to finish on his dressage score in the U21 Whiterock Quarry Championship to Finnish 2nd. Owned by Shelly Vince and Ashleigh Todd

Thank you to my team who made this weekend possible.

And the best ongoing support from my sponsors
Beyond The Bit
Bella Maitland Photography
Equine Mementos
Helite Equestrian NZ - Cool Airvests for Every Occasion
Archers Saddlery

JOHN JONES STEEL - ONE DAY CHAMPS 🏆

John Jones Steel CCN95 - 4, 5, 6 year old Championship

🥇 Sonya Benison & MF Sweet Temptation
🥈 Katie Wilson & Zocalo Xtreme CCPH
🥉 Sonya Benison & MF Star Quality

📸 Michelle Clarke

11/04/2026

MF Sweet Temptation leading her class at South Island One Day Event Championships 🥇

Beyond The Bit
Bella Maitland Photography
Helite Equestrian NZ - Cool Airvests for Every Occasion
Equine Mementos
Archers Saddlery

10/04/2026

MF Sweet Temptation winning best preformed mare and 3rd in the young event horse. Very exciting future for this mare

Equine Mementos
Helite Equestrian NZ - Cool Airvests for Every Occasion
Beyond The Bit
Bella Maitland Photography
Archers Saddlery

YOUNG EVENT HORSE RESULTS 🏆

Melwood Equestrian Best Performed Mare
🏆 Sonya Benison & MF Sweet Temptation

📸 Michelle Clarke

04/04/2026

Sold
Mushroom
3yr old Gelding
EMH 16hh

Mushroom is an outstanding gelding by Heartbreak (Eurosport Heartbreaker x Cats Pyjamas) out of HVP Electrify (by Glendevon Commander). Mushroom has an incredible temperament, very willing to learn and wants to please.

Mushroom was broken in as a 3yr old, and walks, trots and canters under saddle accepting the contact, without any vices, and has been hacked out alone and in company. Mushroom is a pleasure to take on outings, happy to leave his friends or be left. Easy to have in yards.

Mushroom is a kind, fun, straight forward gelding, who is very easy to have around and tries his hardest for his rider. He will turn his head wherever his next venture takes him.

Mushroom is great to do his feet (trim), float, truck, have around etc. He is happy to be taken out alone or with others. Very easy to have around and do anything with, no vices when ridden alone, in company, or in the stable or paddock.

Mushroom is still green due to his age and little mileage but will suit any discipline and will suit someone wanting a first young horse, an amateur, or equally someone wanting a competitive competition mount for the future, with his incredible temperament.

24/03/2026