Since 1963, Henderson Valley Pony Club has been a magnet for horse lovers in The West. Its peaceful park-like setting is the perfect location for this thriving pony club.
The club is part of the national New Zealand Pony Club and boasts around 100 members, ranging from three to retirement age. ‘The club provides opportunities for members of our community to enjoy the sport and practise horsemanship together on our beautiful grounds,’ declares committee member Holly Swainson.
Henderson Valley Pony Club offers a junior equine skills programme for youngsters who don’t own a pony. This popular programme is the perfect introduction and allows children aged 7 to 13 to learn about horses and how to care for them. There are also senior and junior rallies for show jumping, dressage, and cross country. You can also graze and ride your own pony on the club’s extensive rural grounds.
According to Holly, the club is welcoming, friendly, and perfect for horse-mad families. ‘We have a wide range of adult riders, from those just starting to more established or competitive riders’, Holly advises. She adds that many adult riders are parents of junior members who enjoy getting back in the saddle.
The pony club season runs from October to April, but riders use the grounds all year round and in all weather. Holly says the club desperately needed sheltered areas so the kids could care for the ponies without worrying about rain or sun.
‘We already had areas where riders could tie the ponies up while they groom, feed or prepare them for riding,’ explains Holly.
Thanks partly to $5,000 in funding from the Your West Support Fund, the club has covered these areas, providing shelter from the rain and the sun. The grant helped leverage funding from other sources and was topped up with the club’s own fundraising efforts.
Holly says that parents and spectators also benefit from the canopy, which provides a space for them to enjoy watching the riders have fun.
Henderson Valley Pony Club shares its facilities with the West Auckland Riding for the Disabled Association. So, even more horse-mad riders can benefit from the canopy.
Holly says the shelter has been a game-changer. ‘Happy horses mean happy riders,’ she declares.
Henderson Valley Pony Club is located at 201A Henderson Valley Road. New members are always welcome. Check out the website or follow the club on Facebook for all the latest news.
