By Rebecca Harper 

Nationwide real estate company Bayleys has a strong affinity with the equestrian community and agents with a depth of knowledge when it comes to horses and jumping.

A family-owned business, Bayley’s is New Zealand’s leading full service real estate company – looking after everything from commercial or residential through to lifestyle blocks and farms.

Agents Tony Rasmussen and Travis Morgan are just two examples of the strong ties the company has with equestrian sports.

Based in Hawke’s Bay, Tony has been with Bayleys for 10 years, dealing predominantly with farms, orchards, viticulture and lifestyle blocks.

He sees huge synergies between the business and the equestrian community, whatever discipline it may be. “Whether it be lifestyle or farms, rural people or even town folk that may be wanting a lifestyle property or selling one. From a rural perspective, it’s a no-brainer that we support ESNZ.”

Tony’s daughter also rides and competes, which gives him an extra interest in the sport. “That spurs it all on, for me. I have a lot of clients I have sold properties for who are involved in equestrian and in particular, show jumping, and it’s a case of wanting to give back a bit too.”

He attends shows and enjoys presenting ribbons when possible. “It’s a great opportunity to meet people. I really enjoy, and have always enjoyed, the A&P shows and the concept of A&P shows.”

Sponsoring the Bayleys Real Estate World Cup and Premier League Series is the perfect fit for the company. “It goes with the brand, we want to be sponsoring and supporting the best in their endeavours to represent New Zealand. It’s really about sponsoring, supporting and striving for the best – and that’s a good fit with our brand.

“Given it’s a national sponsorship we are wanting to build our relationships with people nationally. Whether they be from Waikato, Auckland, Hawke’s Bay or Canterbury – wherever – we want to support them.”

He says Bayleys is a nationwide New Zealand-owned, family business and is a full service company.

“Of course, people need land for grazing horses and our rural side has the real link to the equestrian world, but many of these people own their own homes or will diversify their investments into other areas too.”

Orewa-based agent Travis Morgan was a professional show jumper overseas before returning to New Zealand and taking up his current role. This background means he is exceptionally well placed to understand what makes the equestrian community tick.

“I was based in Europe for 20 years, 17 of those in Germany. When I came back to New Zealand I decided it was time for a change, something different. I got introduced to Bayleys through a friend whose daughter I used to teach (riding),” he says.

Although he still rides as a hobby, real estate is his real focus now.

“Anyone who has a horse wants that lifestyle property. As individual agents, some of us are involved at grass roots, right down to supporting pony club, up to top level.

“My area I work in has huge involvement in the equestrian community and is close to Woodhill Sands. I used to teach a lot and having those contacts in the equestrian industry, there’s that automatic connection. I have the knowledge of how an equestrian property should be set up and know the advantages or disadvantages of certain areas.”

And his experience comes in handy with the Bayleys sponsorship of ESNZ too.

“We had our general manager attend the final at Woodhill Sands. I was able to walk the World Cup course with him and give him some insight into how the sport has changed. Even at a high level within the company they take a real interest in the sport.

We get a lot of farming families, especially in Hawke’s Bay, that are connected to the equestrian world and they can have farms up for sale or be wanting to buy another farm. I think that’s why the link between Bayleys and the equestrian community is significant.

“Horses need land. Up here in Auckland we have our rural families but also families in the city with children involved in equestrian who are looking to move out into the country or get a small lifestyle block.”