Shooting victim had just left murder-accused husband

Helen Meads was about to start afresh.

She had just left her husband - prominent horse breeder Greg Meads - and phoned a girlfriend early on Wednesday to tell her the news.

"She was extremely excited about moving on with her life," said another mutual friend, who asked not to be named.

But within hours, police were called to the Meads' property on Banks Rd in Matamata and found her dead body. A post-mortem examination revealed she died of a single gunshot to the torso.

Gregory Howard Meads, 54, was charged with his wife's murder and remanded in custody to appear in Hamilton District Court next month.

The couple had been married 10 years and in business together, breeding and training horses, since then. Among the racehorses they owned were Kristov, Ginga Dude and Wolf Pack.

The death of Mrs Meads, 42, has rocked the close-knit horse-racing industry, Matamata Pony Club and the local community.

Her children from a previous marriage - Michael, in his early 20s, and Kimberley, 17 - were being supported by grandparents Fred and Pam White. Eight-year-old Samantha - the Meads' only child together - did not understand what had happened, according to a friend.

"From what I'm told everything's just going over her head," she said.

By all accounts, horses - she was Matamata Pony Club district commissioner - and her children were Mrs Meads' life. Former commissioner Jo Schumacher said the club was devastated.

"The kids loved her, adored her. She would always go the extra step for them," she said.

"Even when she was pregnant with Samantha she was bouncing around at pony club."

From the "lead reiner" youngsters in the club, through to the top Waikato riders, Mrs Meads was always in the thick of it, she said.

"She loved people. She has gone to the last couple of national conferences and would just bowl up to somebody and start chatting."

Northwood Farm trainer Phil Stevens met Mrs Meads about 10 years ago, when she worked at the farm as a stablehand.

"But she's one of those people, if you met her today, tomorrow you'd feel like you'd known her for 10 years. Life was a good time for Helen," he said.

Matamata racing identity Dennis Ryan said she was an "action person" who always got things done.

Another long-time friend - who asked not to be named - said she "didn't have an enemy in the world".

The woman understood Mrs Meads moved to Matamata from Auckland about 10 years ago.

Evan Rayner, who had trained horses for the Meads family for "30-odd years", said her death had come as "one hell of a shock".

His daughter J.J. was a good friend of hers, the pair travelling to Christchurch for the Grand National Meeting for the past two years.

"From what I hear they had a good time. She was a party girl," he said.

Mrs Meads' funeral will be held at the Matamata Race Course on Monday.