Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Pony Club?
Pony Club is an international youth organisation for young people up to the age of 25 years. The various branches and districts of Pony Club in New Zealand are all affiliated to the New Zealand Pony Club Association (NZPCA). Each Pony Club is run by a committee of volunteers, often the parents of the young riders, and they learn to work within the rules, regulations and guidelines set out by NZPCA to provide coaching, exams and events to their members. Pony Club branches like Te Atatu typically meet once a week for a “rally” during the daylight saving months (usually after school) when equestrian coaches work with our young people to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to ride correctly and safely, to know how to care for their ponies and horses and to have lots of fun.
Do you give riding lessons to people who don't already own a horse?
Sorry, we don’t give riding lessons. All of our members own or lease their own horses and have learned the basics of riding a riding school before joining our club. There are some terrific riding schools in West Auckland and we encourage you to contact them to organise lessons for you or your child if interested and see if you enjoy it. We have found this to be a comprehensive list for riding schools in the Auckland area: https://viewauckland.co.nz/best-horse-riding-auckland/
My child really loves horses. If we buy one can we join your club?
These days nearly everyone who joins a city-based Pony Club has already learned the basics of riding and caring for a horse, usually via time spent at a Riding School. Horses and ponies are big, heavy animals: each has their own temperament and personality and it takes confidence to handle them. Learning to ride inevitably involves falling off. Caring for a horse happens in rain and mud as well as sunshine, and some days on the Te Atatū Peninsula it can be wind-swept and forlorn!
Owning a horse is such a big commitment in time and money it is not something that can be entered into without a lot of thought, and it makes sense to attend a riding school for at least a year to be sure that this is going to be an enduring passion and not a passing interest.
The following gives an indication of the approximate costs that are involved:
Initial setup:
Horse lease per year: Usually free
Reliable safe horse to buy: $4000 – $10000+
Saddle: $500 – $1600
Cover for winter: $100 – $200
Bridle (including bit, reins etc): $80 – $220
Halter: $15 – $50
Grooming kit: $30 – $80
Set up total: $4725 – $12150
Monthly costs:
Grazing: $100 – $200
Hay (usually over winter): $40 – $100
Feed (might not be required for some ponies): $50 – $200
Average weekly total: $32 – $108
Average monthly total: $222 – $608
Other considerations:
Insurance: $500 – $1000 per year
Worming: $60 – $120 per year
Vet call outs if required: $200+
Hoof care / farrier (every 5 – 6 weeks): $65 – $250 per visit
Float or truck: $5000 – $20000
or Float or truck hire: $75 – $150 per day + cost of fuel
Do you have any horse poo I can come and collect?
Yes, we have an endless supply of horse poo… Our horses are poo making machines! We collect the poo and take it to the dung heap in our clubroom paddock, accessible from our gate at 465 Te Atatu Rd, te Atatu Peninsula. Whenever you see a car in our carpark the gate should be unlocked and you can drive right in. Best times to find the gate unlocked are after school, and weekends between 10am and 4pm. You should bring your own containers, and shovel, and then you are welcome to load up for free. If you are coming for a large quantity (e.g. a trailer load) and want to make sure someone is on site when you arrive then you can pre-arrange this by emailing teatatupony@gmail.com and we will put you in touch with one of our members to agree a day and time (please note that we can usually only offer this if you are coming for a large quantity).
