The Crusaders' horses are officially back trotting the field at One NZ Stadium

It’s confirmed, the Crusaders’ horses will continue to be an ongoing tradition at Christchurch’s One New Zealand Stadium.

Following proper testing and tweaking some processes, the team has just announced that the game day ritual will now be able to be delivered safely at the new venue.

The crowd at tonight’s home game against the Blues are the first to welcome back the longstanding tradition - and it’s going down right as we speak.

The Crusaders' horses have been part of the club for more than three decades and hold deep significance for players, staff and Canterbury fans.

“We know how much the horses mean to our people,” says Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge.

They’re woven into the history of this club and into so many memories for our fans. They are an important part of our club’s legacy, so we’re proud to retain this special part of our matchday experience and what they represent.

Yesterday, we reported on the rumour surrounding the gameday spectacle returning after fan footage surfaced showing the horses completing a practice circuit around the new venue.

According to today’s announcement, the testing allowed everyone involved to identify and address the specific risks that couldn’t be tackled in time for Anzac weekend’s Super Round event.

“Time simply wasn’t on our side,” Mansbridge says. “Without the opportunity to properly test the horses at full capacity in the stadium before such a major event, it would have been irresponsible to have them feature.”

New protocols have been put in place, particularly for the safety of the horses, TV broadcasters, stadium staff and punters.

The biggest change is that the usual three laps of the field, stopping for each stand to wave and show their support, will look different in the new venue.

They will now complete two laps in a continuous canter, because stopping increases the likelihood of the horses becoming unsettled - and none of us wants to disturb them.

Plus, their speed will be carefully managed, particularly around corners, to avoid broadcast cameras and protect the condition of the playing pitch.

The horses were initially retired on 14 April after genuine challenges were identified in the limited space available.

The team say, it was a decision “made with safety as the overriding priority”, and one that carried a “significant emotional cost for the club, the horsemen, and Crusaders fans”.

“They made it very clear to us how they felt after we announced the horse's retirement. That gave us an opportunity, post Super Round, to look at this again.”

This outcome shows what happens when multiple people take responsibility and they care enough to keep working at it.

So, whether you’re at tonight's game or heading to one on the calendar, giddy up, because the horses deserve to be celebrated!

Image supplied by Crusaders Rugby.