About Gareth

About Gareth

Meet gareth dunkerley

Horses were always going to be a great influence in my life. My mother was a keen horse woman and her cousin Tony Webb represented New Zealand in Europe on his wonderful New Zealand bred horse Reservation.

I first became aware of Wallingford Station as a very young child when mum took me to the Wallingford Sports each year hosted on the old cricket grounds at Wallingford. After many years visiting Wallingford John Ormond invited me to the house for a drink. I fell in love with the homestead and gardens and all the wonderful NZ history that surrounds it. I knew that one day I would be spending more time at this wonderful property.

I continued on with my interest in riding and competed in eventing in New Zealand, Germany and Switzerland as a young rider.

Then life and career took over and I pursued my career in Veterinary Science. Once qualified I gained an internship to work and train at Randwick Equine Centre in Sydney. This busy equine hospital had a focus on the Sydney racing and sport horse industry. I Then moved to the UK and spent 7 years in both equine and companion animal practice before Returning to NZ in 2007 after purchasing Ponsonby and Herne Bay Veterinary practices. After 15 years in practice ownership I sold the business and bought Wallingford Station to connect me back to Hawkes Bay, family and my love of this iconic property.

My passion for everything equine continues. I purchased an old agistment property in Matamata and still compete at an amateur level in show jumping. I have also developed an interest in breeding over the last 10 years. I was fortunate enough to purchase “Prinzess VI “ a very important premium broodmare who travelled all the way from Germany to New Zealand. She is by the super sire Cassini I and out of Borana who is the full sister to Loreana who won world cup finals on three continents. Prinzess VI has progeny competing in New Zealand, Australia, USA and Germany at Grand Prix level.

I have bred two stallions from her both by Zirocco Blue VDL and three mares by Diarado, Zavall VDL and Emilion VDL.

Wallingford Zorro ( Zirocco Blue VDL /Prinzess VI ) is a young up and coming stallion now being used as a breeding stallion over mares here in New Zealand and continuing his competitive career under the professional guidance of lisa Coupe.