Waverley horse trainers Harvey and Ann Wilson were the toast of Hastings this week when they were inducted into the New Zealand Horse of the Year Show Hall of Fame at a gala dinner.
Also honoured was show director Kevin Hansen and his wife, Sue, before a sell-out crowd of 350 people that covered the "who's who" of the New Zealand equestrian world.
The celebration is one of the highlights of the sport's social calendar, with this year's dinner even more popular thanks to guest speaker Sir Mark Todd, who came from the UK for the event.
The armchair chat with veteran broadcaster Mark Sainsbury was light-hearted, entertaining and covered everything from the Los Angeles Olympics, to London, the Queen, Rio, and even a dash of Fifty Shades of Grey.
But the more serious side of the evening was the closely-guarded secret of just who was to be inducted into the Horse of the Year Show Hall of Fame.
Ann and Harvey Wilson have won all the big awards at the Horse of the Year Show over the years, ridden at top level and remain hugely admired in the sport.
They have spent a lifetime involved with horses but these days are more likely to be found at the race track or hunting field than in the showjumping arena.
If you take the accomplishments of just one half of this modest couple it makes for impressive reading put down both and you have something incredible.
Harvey and Ann were the first husband and wife to win the Olympic Cup. They've also both won the Norwood Gold Cup, a fist full of World Cup (NZ) series, many of the top trophies at the HOY and the big classes too.
Both were humble in accepting the honour, and paid tribute to many "fantastic" people.
They underlined just how much they appreciate the life that horses have brought them.
"We've had some fantastic horses over the years," says Mr Wilson, who created history with Bruce Goodin, Maurice Beatson and Mark Todd when they won the inaugural Commonwealth Cup against Australia and Great Britain at the Windsor Royal Show in 1992.
Mr Wilson's favourite horse was probably May Day, who campaigned successfully in Europe and England as well as going to the Barcelona Olympics.
The Wilsons switched their focus to racing after a bad flood on their Wanganui property in 2004 when they had to swim some of their horses to safety.
"It just slowed us down a little and we changed direction. We had done it at that top level for a very long time," says Mr Wilson, who was master of the local hunt for 20-plus years.
Mr Wilson congratulated show director Mr Hansen and his team on a "great show".
And then the tables were turned the man who prides himself in knowing absolutely everything that goes on at HOY was completely ambushed when he and Sue were announced as inductees into the Hall of Fame.
The success of the Horse of the Year Show is largely thanks to the vision of the Hawke's Bay couple, who were completely floored by the announcement.
Kevin is a top showjumper from way back, having ridden for New Zealand, but Sue freely admits to being petrified of horses.
This is the 15th show the Hansens have done.
Long time dressage supporter Chris Paston the co-convenor of dressage at HOY was awarded the David Ross Memorial Trophy as volunteer of the year.