PAPAKURA PONY CLUB is a small club catering to the local community with openings for new riding and non-riding members. Our focus is on all kids having fun building relationships with their pony/horse as well as each other while learning and improving their skills and knowledge. The club is currently in the process of rebuilding and enjoying renewed interest from the local council. This is apparent as the Super City Auckland Council is now working towards bigger and better grounds for the club in the foreseeable future to share with other compatible sports and youth organizations.

PAPAKURA PONY CLUB AIMS

• To teach children and young adults to love, respect and care for their equine partner, while learning skills that encompass pleasure and competition
• Promote and improve the quality of riding and horse management for young riders and their coaching throughout the region
• To teach life skills, responsibility for oneself and to the team and horse(s), team spirit, goal setting and self-esteem through the love of horses
• To promote and encourage the Pony Clubs Fair Play Charter cultivating respect, loyalty and strength of character and self-discipline in all members along with the proper care and welfare of their horse.

BRIEF HISTORY

Papakura pony club has a long and proud history in the Papakura/Franklin district, some of the trophy’s date back to the early 1960’s.  At its peak Papakura Pony Club boasted 120 riding members, many of whom developed into business owners and leading citizens of Papakura. Since 1975 the members of Papakura pony club have relied on the generosity of Mr. Keith McCarty who has allowed the club to use his land in Walker road for all pony club purposes. The land that was used by Papakura Pony club is now leased to a third party who has been less generous with the use of the land and the restrictions imposed on Papakura Pony Club have seen a reduction in the membership.

After years of negotiation with the old Papakura City Council and lately the new Super City Auckland Council, Papakura Pony Club have been allocated 10 acres of land on Opaheke Road, this allocation may be increased at a later date. Alterations are being made for access to the new premises and we hope this to be in place before the beginning of the riding season starting in September 2011.

Papakura Pony club like most clubs heavily rely on the chain of volunteers, parents form an important link in this chain. Their input keeps the club functioning, their roles include presidents, secretaries, treasurers, event organisers, coaches, writers, jump judges, fund raisers, helpers at working bees, etc, we would like to take the time to thank them all for your dedication because our Pony Club could not function without them.