Design constraints have ruled out letting the Crusaders’ matchday horses have a run - in Christchurch’s new stadium.

The six horses have featured at home games since 1996, but the space limits at One NZ Stadium leave just seven metres between the sideline and LED signage.

Venues Otautahi chief executive, Caroline Harvie-Teare, says it's not an unusual layout for a modern stadium, but means the horses would've had to run across artificial turf and natural grass.

"It's not the only reason though, obviously with a roof and with the proximity of the crowd to the playing surface, what that does for the horses is - it creates an environment where they actually need to move faster."

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