Crusaders horses rumoured to return after fan footage captures practice run

Could the Crusaders horses return after the long-standing tradition was scrapped from Christchurch’s new One NZ Stadium?

Footage has surfaced showing the horses arriving outside the stadium, followed by practice circuits around the empty venue yesterday.

“I don’t know if the stadium bent its rules, if they were just able to make it more safe, find a solution — but whoever was involved, it seems like we’ve come to the right solution,” Duncan Wood, the man behind popular sports fan page Boomfa Vintage, said in an Instagram video.

He was referring to a report claiming the horses return, however the Crusaders have remained tight-lipped, with no official comeback announced by the team or stadium executives.

Still, hopes remain high among Cantabrians of hearing the sound of galloping hooves alongside 'The Conquest of Paradise' echoing through the stadium once again.

“See, they can do it if they really want to,” one fan said, hoping to see the horses return.

“All is good in the world now,” another added.

“I hope they are there tomorrow night,” said a third.

Tomorrow night sees the Crusaders take on the Blues at One NZ Stadium - the first match on the field since the Super Round over Anzac weekend.

The horses were not included in the game day action during the Crusaders’ first home game in the new venue, so a return would be a welcome surprise for supporters.

The tradition was initially scrapped due to limited space around the $672 million multi-use venue. Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge said at the time that the six horses wouldn’t be able to avoid the playing surface, which would compromise both their safety and the condition of the turf.

“We’ve tried our absolute best to make this work, and we want our Crusaders whānau to know we have left no stone unturned. Ultimately, safety must come first, even when the emotional cost is high,” Mansbridge said.

The six Crusaders horses represent the six provincial unions of the upper South Island: Tasman, Buller, West Coast, South Canterbury, Mid Canterbury and Canterbury.

So, is a return on the cards? We’ll have to wait for official word before we go galloping in celebration.