Tracy Bublitz is the first to admit horses – along with husband Craig – are the loves of her life!

The 40-something-year-old breeds performance horses from their Stratford base, while also competing up and down the country side.

With Bublitz Estate RomariZ, she won the New Zealand Performance Bred Mare of the Year at the 2013 Horse of the Year Show – for the second time.

“That was amazing to win,” says Bublitz. “Every mare in the class was stunning and they all looked straight, well put together and well bred.”

It’s one of a raft of ribbons and accolades this lovely mare has won for her doting owner.

RomariZ, a Holsteiner by the stallion RamireZ, is eight, and Bublitz has been dabbling in the amateur rider (showjumping) with her as well this season.

But they won’t be at HOY this year. As sad as Bublitz is not to be there to defend her title with her home-bred RomariZ, she has an excellent back up plan.

Instead, she will have RoseZ, RomariZ's five-year-old half sister. She bought the younger mare sight-unseen as a two-and-a-half-year-old and hasn’t regretted it for a moment.

Bublitz competes in show hunter and performance bred classes with RoseZ.

“She has really come into herself later and is such a delight to have around,” says Bublitz.

So as well as show hunter at HOY, RoseZ will be defending her stud name in the performance bred classes, and particularly the mare of the year crown.

“I haven’t been in a rush with RoseZ,” she says. “We just want to bring her on in her own time.

“My horses are athletes, and we always go out and do the best we can. I like to set goals that are achievable for them.”

Bublitz has been a regular in the line-up of performance bred classes at HOY, having won the four and five year old supreme titles. She is now also coordinator of the section.

And there are more exciting prospects coming on at the Bublitz stud. Two-year-old CorlettaZ, who is by Corofino and out of RomariZ, is surely to be strutting her stuff at HOY in the not too distant future.

Bublitz has bigger dreams for herself too, and is working her way through the classes with two big goals in mind – to place in the Amateur Rider of the Year and a start in the Lady Rider of the Year.

Photo credit: Micha Johansen – Pauavision Photography