Teaches nationally

Donna and Elise teach nationally reaching a wide demographic, giving back to their sport & youth

Sportsmanlike

Donna & Elise are renowned for both being extremely sportsmanlike & professional riders on the local circuit. They are often seen helping others, walking courses & warming up fellow competitors.

Since forming DSE Donna & Elise have been fully dedicated to leaving a positive imprint on event riders here in New Zealand, through encouragement, support and mentoring they strive to inspire their team into not only becoming  international level athletes, but also being great people at the same time too.

Largest eventing team in nz

DSE runs the largest eventing team in NZ.  We have about 30 horses on our property, and compete 6 of them at each event,  plus we have our extended team which includes our current and past groom interns with their own horses.

Waerenga Equestrian

DSE are based in the picturesque valley of Waerenga, Te Kauwhata in the Waikato, New Zealand. Alongside riding event horses, Donna and Elise run the family’s 500 acre dry stock farm. This can actually be quite a useful contrast of environments as they combine their stock work with mustering on their young horses which teaches them vital quick and solid footwork skills, and also keeps them earning their keep!

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Prolific Producer

Producer of over 30 upper-level horses. Donna has produced many, many horses to advanced level, such as Balmoral Sensation, Call Me Clifton, DSE Cluny, DSE Tangalooma, DSE Mr Hokey Pokey, Henton Executive, Just Chocolate to name a few!

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DSE Team

“We are only as good as the Team behind the scenes that support us.” 

Thanks to all the people behind the scenes, you know who you are!

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Home

Welcome to Donna Smith Eventing!

Donna & Elise Edwards-Smith are based in the picturesque valley of Waerenga, Te Kauwhata in the Waikato, New Zealand. At Donna Smith Eventing our aim is to represent New Zealand at the Olympics and World Equestrian Games. To enable this we have built a business based around coaching, horse schooling & competing and preparing quality event horses for sale both in New Zealand and Internationally.

DSE Team

Donna

Donna Edwards-Smith has been a force to be reckoned with in the eventing world since a young age and she has never looked back…

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Elise

Elise Edwards-Smith has become a key part of Donna Smith Eventing and has brought a wealth of experience to the team.

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Owners

A big thanks to all DSE owners who have invested their time and effort helping achieve our dreams and sustainable long term success!

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Sponsors

The following businesses and individuals have committed to assisting Donna & Elise in their quest to be the best in their field and for that they are extremely grateful. Their support is a true asset and we encourage you check out their businesses and websites so as you too can benefit from the products and expertise they offer!

“Our ambitions and goals are high, but we are dedicated to reach them, without our team of workers, owners, sponsors, supporters, family and friends, success would not be possible!”

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Recent News

Testimonials

We became involved in eventing as a consequence of needing to find a meaningful activity for  my retiring racehorses, hence we met Donna Smith. Donna has ridden a number of my horses for the last six years. Donna is an outstanding rider and horsewoman with great skill, ability and experience but also great patience and tolerance which enables her to take very difficult horses and turn them into champion eventers. We are very proud to be part of Donna's team and I have been dubbed "Showtime Grandma" for looking after the troupe at events, providing meals, a warm place to rest and a small tipple at the end of the day.
We will continue to support Donna and hopefully be with her as she gains more international recognition and titles as fitting for a rider of her class. I think Donna's win on my horse Cluny in the CCI1* at Kihikihi was outstanding in the circumstances, and I thank Donna so much for that.

Gaye McClunie

Thank you for the amazing job you did with Donny. 🙂. We are just so thrilled with him and how he has matured and so so sensible. The difference is just amazing, so thank you so much for your wonderful encouraging way with the young horses. We are rapt!!!

Sally Bank

Dave and Bridget Sutton recommended Donna Smith to us when we bought Henton First Edition (Fraser) as a 3 year old. Under Donna's  supervision and expertise, he is developing the confidence and skills to move up the grades. He has talent but it has been  Donna's skill and professionalism and her calm manner which is giving Fraser confidence. Donna loves what she does and has a great connection with horses. As owners, we are really enjoying the experience of seeing Fraser develop under Donna's very thorough approach to bringing out the best in our young horse.
Dean, Mandy & Anna Beverley

Beverley Family

“There’s only one person I know that keeps smiling when things goes wrong! And Donna has the best smile I know!”

Elise Edwards

When I first started having lessons with Donna I had a horse who's canter was more like a run, no collection, just flat. My horse would jump through jumps, would bounce one stride combinations, so on and so forth. With Donna alone as my instructor my horse and I have been consistently double clear before that had never ever done a clear round of show jumping and have since come first in an optimum time round with 30 competitors. I am now focusing on dressage and the improvements are incredible. No one is too big or too small for Donna, seen her give all her attention whether it's someone on a stubborn kick along pony or one of NZ's renowned eventers. The techniques and skill set that Donna teaches is straight forward and effective and I truly have no need for another coach. Dressage, show jumping, cross country, whatever you need. You will never come away without improvement and will consistently have 'the best lesson ever'.

Rebekah Greig