Who Are We?

Henderson Valley Pony Club is located on the Henderson Valley Park grounds at 201a Henderson Valley Road, Henderson.  We are a reasonably large Pony Club with around 100 members, encompassing 60 families. 

We offer members with their own horses opportunities for riding tuition and horse management through weekly group lessons, known as 'rallies'. 

We also host horse riding events through out the season, including events such as a big One Day Event, show jumping days, twilight cross country practices, dressage days and ribbon days.  We also hold closed events, which are for our members only.  Events are mostly held on a weekend.

We have members aged from 3 years right up to those well into their retirement years.  Members range in ability level from beginner riders (including young riders on the lead rein), right up to our more experienced riders who are sitting their advanced certificate exams and are out competing at events.  We also cater for adult riders of all abilities and interest levels.  It doesn't matter what your level of experience as a rider, Pony Club has something to offer for everyone.

We also cater for children without their own horses, through our Junior Equine Skills programme, where they can learn about horses and how to care for them.

Our History

The Henderson Valley Pony Club was originally formed in 1963 as the Henderson Riding Club.  In 1964 we became a branch of the Western Suburbs District Pony Club.  Our branch grounds were originally a nursery and garden centre.  The remnants of this are still seen today in some of the beautiful trees and plants that grace the grounds.  The land was rented from Sunde's until the council purchased the land from Sunde's and rented it to us.

The first club building was a shed which was used for just about everything - canteen, entries and storage. The second building on the grounds was the tractor shed which was also used for meetings.

Most events were held in Cooks paddock, the venue for the Western Suburbs District 30th Anniversary show-jumping in 1980.  Before the sub-division the branch had the use of the paddocks through to Border Road and the park on Henderson Valley Road.  The cross-country course was amongst the sub-divisions and orchards and in the 1980s events were held to raise money for equipment.  The membership in the 1980s was over 100.

For many years the Henderson Riding for the Disabled (now called the West Auckland Riding For The Disabled) has been riding on our grounds, providing therapeutic activities for children with disabilities.  The two organisations now formally share the grounds, each occupying approximately half, but jointly utilise all facilities for their members for riding opportunities.

There are lots of exciting new facility developments and upgrades that are underway.  West Auckland Riding For The Disabled are currently in the process of building a covered riding arena, and Pony Club has recently undertaken a redevelopment of the outdoor sand arena, and we are building a new water jump, as the old water jump had to make way for the covered riding arena.  We also have other facility upgrades to look forward to, including a covered tie up area and some new cross country jumps.

Henderson Valley and West Auckland District Pony Club 
           
Henderson Valley is a Branch of West Auckland District Pony Club (WADPC), the other branches being Massey and Te Atatu. There are events and competitions organised by the “District” for which our members are able to enter. A number of these result in selection of riders to represent the “District” and go forward to other events. Information on these activities will be given out at Pony Club, see your President or Head Instructor if you would like to enter and need guidance.