The Crusaders match-day horses have had their first gallop inside Christchurch's new stadium.
The club is ramping up its efforts to save the 30-year-old tradition after fans launched a petition and protests against its initial decision not to allow them inside One NZ Stadium.
But the club appears to have made a U-turn, with a Crusaders spokesperson saying on Wednesday the horses had undergone their first physical test at the new stadium.
The move follows an earlier testing session at the Super Round, when the riders walked around the stadium to gauge the noise and lighting while it was full of spectators.
The club originally retired the horses due to the narrow 7m gap between the sideline and the grandstands
The Crusaders said there was "still lots to work through" before they could make a full return and feature on match-days.
Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge previously said banning the horses at One NZ Stadium was a tough call to make.
"This is a decision that really hurts because the horses have been part of who we are from the very beginning, and we know how much they mean to our fans.
"That feeling of watching them run out in front of a packed crowd, while 'Conquest of Paradise' plays, is a feeling I will never forget.
"We've tried our absolute best to make this work, and we want our Crusaders whānau to know we have left no stone unturned.
"Ultimately, safety must come first, even when the emotional cost is high."
The six Crusaders horses represent the six provincial unions of the top of the South Island: Tasman, Buller, West Coast, South Canterbury, Mid Canterbury and Canterbury and have been part of pre-match entertainment at Crusaders home games since 1996.
-Allied Media
