Pony Club

Phillips Equine is proud to be part of the New Zealand Pony Clubs Association (NZPCA). NZPCA is a not for profit, youth voluntary organisation for young people interested in ponies/horses and riding. Pony Club provides instruction on riding and horse/pony management with a structured certificate system that allows young people to gain qualifications, promoting the highest ideals of behaviour, sportsmanship, citizenship and loyalty, to create strength of character and self discipline. Pony Club encourages young people to ride and enjoy all kinds of sport connected with riding through rallies, events and competitions.

RALLIES

The rally is the backbone of The Pony Club. A working rally is one at which instruction is given. It may be either a mounted or unmounted rally. An unmounted rally is usually for horse and pony care instruction. All mounted rallies follow a rally plan which are tailored to the level of the groups of riders attending. The plans include a gear checking/safety brief, a ‘lesson of the day’, a horse management lesson and games and activities.

CERTIFICATES

Certificates are an essential part of the Pony Club system, providing incentive and encouragement to learn and improve at all levels. Pony Club members study for their certificates at rallies and can take exams to test their knowledge approximately every two years throughout their time at Pony Club. Pony Club certificates are available for all ages and levels of competency.

WHAT DOES A RIDER NEED FOR PONY CLUB?

• Pony Club manual.

• Horse management workbooks D – C+. These can be purchased from most saddlery shops or can be ordered through PE.

Formal Pony club uniform

• Formal long-sleeved shirt
• White collared shirt
  
• Navy tie
  
• PC badge
  
• Jodhpur boots (with or without chaps. If worn they must be leather and the same colour as your boots), or long boots.
  
• Beige or white jodhpurs
  
• Jodhpur boots (with or without chaps/gaiters) or long boots
  
• Helmet (these will be tagged to state whether they pass a standard)
• Back Protector (also tagged, and compulsory for Cross Country)
• Hair net
  

Informal Pony club uniform

• PE Pony Club informal polo shirt
• Any plain dark, beige or white jodphurs
• Jodhpur boots (with or without chaps/gaiters) or long boots
• Helmet (these will be tagged to state whether they pass a standard)
  
• Back Protector (also tagged, and compulsory for Cross Country)

PONY CLUB INVESTMENT

Annual Joining Fee

• This is set by our AGM every year.  Adult Non-Riding membership $45, Riding membership is $115
• Rallys $50 on own horse, $95 on PE Horse

Lessons

BUILDING CONFIDENT RIDERS

Phillips Equine offers horse riding lessons that cater to a range of ages and riding abilities. Our Riding School offers private or group lessons, holiday programmes, group rides, and more. Our purpose-built facilities are set up for educating riders and training horses. Ride one of our lovely natured horses or your own pony.

The Riding School is located in the peaceful country atmosphere of Matangi. Our unique property is set on 50 acres, with the stables situated 1 km from the road entrance. With no road frontage, it creates a quiet, private and secure environment for both horses and riders.

Our highest priority is for you to learn the skills you need to ride horses, while also teaching in a way that is as fun as possible!

Horse riding lessons are primarily held in one of our all-weather arenas which are equipped with show jumps and dressage markers.

We also often go for a short pleasure ride around the farm, or schooling over spars and cross country fences, giving you a chance to put your skills to the test in a completely different environment.

All of our instructors are well qualified and experienced to ensure that you are learning in a safe, supportive environment with all the fun horse riding is supposed to be.

Helmets, footwear, body protectors, and toe stoppers are available for hire. These items can also be purchased in our Merchandise Shop.

OSCAR APPROVED

Phillips Equine is OSCAR approved for all horse riding lessons and holiday programmes. This gives you assurance that we meet government standards for health and safety. Eligible families can apply for subsidies for all their horse riding. Please contact us for more info about this subsidy.

Click here to find out more

Opening Hours

Monday to Friday 3 pm to 6:30 pm

Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 3 pm

Closed on Public Holidays

LESSON PRICES (on PE horse unless otherwise stated)

Lessons can be booked casually or prepaid by purchasing discounted term lessons.

Feel free to reach out to us for our current pricing! We're here to help and provide you with the information you need.

For OSCAR subsides go to Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Subsidy - Work and Income

Holiday Programmes

Activities will vary depending on the ability and interests of the rider. Activities may include: farm riding, trekking, and learning horsemanship skills (i.e. how to catch, lead, brush & saddle your pony).

We NEVER cancel – rain, hail, or snow, nothing can stop us. However, activities may change for health and safety reasons.

While attending our holiday programs, you are based at the “White stables”. This is where the riding school and merchandise rooms are, including a bathroom, and lounge facilities. 

Bring your swimsuits for those warm summer months. During the hottest part of the day, we all take a break – the ponies are put out in the paddock with ‘lunch’, and we enjoy the salt-water swimming pool and doing on adventures down in the bush and stream.

The emphasis is safe FUN so that everyone can have maximum enjoyment while learning new skills. As our aim is to nurture safe and confident riders. Horsemanship is an important part of this so we do teach these things in the lessons as well – so if they have never learned to saddle/bridle a horse, it will be taught as part of their time here. As they get more competent, so do the horsemanship skills that are taught.

GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP

We focus on teamwork, character, and teaching respect, discipline, kindness, inclusion, resilience, perseverance, and the love of horses. At the Riders Academy we take our sport seriously. We want to achieve potential, and yes, we want to win too. While we train, learn and compete, we never lose sight of what’s most important. With this at the heart of all we do, we can be truly successful.

HOLIDAY PROGRAMME PRICES - MSD OSCAR APPROVED

All prices on PE horses.   Ask about options for bringing your own pony for the day, or staying for sleep overs for the holidays.

Full Day (9am to 4pm)  

Morning (9am to midday-ish)

Afternoon (2pm to 4pm)