Welcome!
Waimak River Riding Centre was founded by Erika and Stan McStay in February 2001.
WRRC grew immensely under Erika and Stan’s management over the years. Establishing a much loved range of services including treks, lessons, leasing and holiday programs offered to our kiwi community and international visitors.
However, after 21 years of successful business Erika has passed the reins to Amelie Wouters-Reek and Dee Korkie as of May 2022. The business now runs under Waimak River Riding Centre Limited.
WRRC Ltd. is based upon the values of our horses’ well being and being able to share very memorable experiences with clients from all walks of life. We will continue to offer this in the form of treks, lessons, leasing and holiday programs whilst also taking a new direction with Dee and Amelie’s guidance. Being offering wellness programs. This is very exciting as our wonderful horses have so much to offer in the way of making one feel grounded and at peace. A large majority of the team of horses we work with have come to us from situations where they haven’t been treated the way they deserve. They have an understanding of this when working with people who have experienced the same. We are going to be offering tailor made wellness programs to suit every individual’s needs and goals whilst upholding a high standard of safety.
WRRC is located in a serene environment near the stunning Waimakariri River, which happens to be only 15 minutes from the central city, on the Northern boundary of the Christchurch City limit.
So please come and meet our truly remarkable horses as well as the experienced and knowledgeable staff for an experience you won’t forget.
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Location
Operating Hours
6.5 days a week every day of the year except Christmas Day
School Holiday Riding Program
Our program is designed to assist children from 8 to 16 years to either learn to ride and care for our equine friends or to continue to improve their current riding skills in a friendly, fun and safe environment. The program has been running every school holidays since July 2008 and has been a great success. Children of all ages and backgrounds have found the program fun, exciting and informative, as they get to learn and practice pony care, riding, games on ponies as well theory appropriate to their level of experience. It runs from 9am to 3.00pm each two weeks of every School Holidays with the exception of the Summer break where it runs for three weeks.
The Annual Mini Show is a great opportunity for Children without ponies to get a taste of what it is like to compete in Equine competitions. Children fortunate enough to have their own mounts are also welcome to come and enjoy a fun low key day which includes games, jumping and show rings. The Mini Show is now a separate event to the Holiday Program being held on the First Sunday after the summer program.
Mini Show 2024: January 28th. Start time 9am sharp. Entry forms available from January 2024 online. The Mini Show is a low key fun day with prize ribbons from 1st to 6th and is open to all comers with their own mounts. WRRC mounts will be available to our Riding School students only.
All riding instructors are adults, with a range of equine and experience including, training, competing and teaching children to ride.
There is also an option of before and after Program care for the convenience of the parents to transport the children whilst still getting to work and home at the right time.
Dates for 2023 are:
April 10th to 14nd and April 17th to 21th
July 3rd to 7th and July 10th to 14nd
September 25th to 29th and October 2nd to 6th
Activities include but are not limited to:
- Gymkhana events (games on horseback e.g: egg and spoon race, barrel races etc)
- Overnight camp out! **
- Pony care (learn to look after your pony and the gear)
- Jumping (from beginner to experienced levels)
- Dressage
- Trail rides
- Prizes (for the daily competitions and most improved rider at the end of each week)
- Supervised swimming in the Waimakariri river with the ponies! **
- Certificates for each child with a photo of you and your pony! ***
- The Annual Mini show and Ribbon day; make sure you and your pony are dressed to impress!
** - January/Summer holiday program only.
*** - Those attending a full week.
Prices:
- $85 per day, per child
OR
- $80 per day, per child, for 5 consecutive days (Full Week $400).
Bookings are essential and available online, pre-payment is required to reserve your child's place in the Program. For more information please contact info@wrrc-ltd.com
What to Bring:
A complete change of clothing (including underwear and socks), a healthy lunch and drink, riding boots or shoes with a small heel (must be closed in shoes), sunscreen and sunglasses for spring and summer and gumboots, warm clothing –jacket, raincoat and gloves for spring, winter and autumn. Swimming gear, including river shoes, togs, sunblock and a towel for the January program.
We Provide:
Morning and afternoon teas.
Riding Helmets
Ponies, tack, grooming equipment and all other necessary equipment
Before and after Program care
And heaps of pony FUN & Education!
Camps
** There is usually one camp over night per week of the Summer Holiday Program (January). You will need to bring your own tent, sleeping bag and pillow as well as personal hygiene stuff (toothbrush etc.) and tent may be required.
Costs are $40.- per person
Only offered in the January program as it is too difficult to predict the weather at other times of year.
Swimming is always supervised by adults and where possible we ask that the children bring river shoes (shoes that they can happily get wet to protect their feet from the stones). Sunblock is also essential.
Our Annual Mini Show will take place on Sunday January 29th. The children get the opportunity to compete in show rings, jumping games and a fancy dress competition. However they can still participate by paying the fees as listed in the Show Schedule which will be available 2 weeks prior to the show and posted on the Website. It is always a fantastic fun day so don't miss out! The Children get to choose what they want to enter with our guidance and of course which pony or ponies they can ride. Because there are a limited amount of ponies some will have different riders in various classes. It is our goal to be as fair as possible to all the children and the ponies. Friends and family are most welcome to come and support - be ware that it is often a warm day so sun hats and sunscreen as well as seating will need to be bought with you. Unfortunately large umbrellas can often upset the horses and ponies unless they are a good distance away.
Our Mini Show is also open to children lucky enough to have their own ponies. A float parking area will be made available with an entrance off Dickeys Road. This is a fun day so bring your smile and have a great time!
To enrol klick here
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