New Zealand can now boast the world’s first dedicated national horse ambulance service, following the commissioning of the country’s ninth and final horse ambulance.

The ambulance was unveiled by the NZ Horse Ambulance Trust on Thursday in Karaka, where sponsors and supporters of the Trust celebrated the achievement.

“We’ve been on a mission to deliver a national fleet of horse ambulances and today we are proud to say we’ve done it,” Chair of the NZ Horse Ambulance Trust and General Manager of Welfare & Sustainability for NZ Thoroughbred Racing Martin Burns said.

The NZ Horse Ambulance Trust was established in 2016 as a charity with the objective of funding a fleet of equine ambulances to help improve the health and welfare of horses across New Zealand.

Since then, the Trust has raised $1.25 million, including a successful fundraising campaign in 2021 raising more than $100,000 to ‘Complete the Fleet’.

“Having our fleet complete means we have the capacity to ensure all race meetings and equestrian events in New Zealand have a horse ambulance in attendance,” Burns said.

“This is truly world – leading, as we are the only country that boasts a nationwide dedicated horse ambulance service, and puts equine welfare at the very heart of the industry.”