When Sophie Scott rides into the arena at the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen, she will be representing New Zealand, but the horse beneath her will carry a distinctly Australian story onto one of Jumping’s biggest stages.

Advertisement

Normandy GHP was bred and produced in Australia by accomplished Australian showjumper Olivia Hamood, whose GHP prefix has become closely associated with the quality horses she has bred and developed. Foaled in 2015, Normandy’s journey began within Olivia’s breeding and sport-horse program at Glen Haven Park in Queensland, where the foundations were laid for the gelding who would eventually progress from Australian beginnings to World Cup success and World Championship selection.

It is a considerable achievement for any breeder and producer to see a horse reach championship level. Normandy’s selection is especially significant because it reflects years of decisions, patience and development long before the wider Jumping world began to take notice. From breeding the right horse to carefully establishing his education and early competition experience, Olivia’s influence forms an important part of the story that will now continue at Aachen.

Advertisement

Normandy later crossed the Tasman and became an important member of Sophie Scott’s team. Based in Palmerston North, Sophie had already built an impressive record in New Zealand through Young Rider, Grand Prix and World Cup competition, but her partnership with Normandy has helped take her career into a new international chapter.

Together, Sophie and Normandy have developed into one of New Zealand’s leading combinations. Their results include great success at home and back over this side of the Tasman as as part of the New Zealand team for the Trans Tasman Challenge and a win in the Tamworth World Cup qualifier.

That Tamworth result also brought Normandy’s story back to the country where it began. An Australian-bred and produced horse, now competing for New Zealand, returned to Australia and won at World Cup level. It was a result that reflected the strength of the wider Australasian Jumping pathway and the contribution Australian breeders continue to make well beyond their own national team.

Above: Olivia Hamood with first and second place getters in the Tamworth World Cup, Sophie Scott and Normandy GHP and  Sam Overton, with Cha Cha Blue GHP

While Normandy GHP will wear the silver fern at Aachen, his presence on the New Zealand team also places Olivia Hamood’s breeding program and Australian sport-horse production on the world stage and Normandy will arrive in Aachen carrying the work, belief and ambition of people on both sides of the Tasman.

You can learn more about Olivia’s breeding program and Normandy GHP on Episode 25 of the All Clear Podcast available on:

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3XFLukk
Spotify: https://bit.ly/3KOsYTX
Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3MxrcXP

Advertisement