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Speak Up for Equine

Help us make equestrian sport and recreation better.

Your membership supports our submissions. Help us to help you, by adding your name to our membership!

Our Sites

Bridleways New Zealand

Information about public riding places parks, forests, beaches and farmland rides with maps and photos. Learn about permits, access. parking before you go.

Horse Sense on the Roads

Information for horse riders, motorists, pedestrians and cyclists about road safety around horses on the roads.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who Are We?

Ordinary horse people, who care about public access, safety for horse riders and getting better recognition for recreational riding. Our aim is to provide information, perform research and and work on recreational riding projects with local groups and individuals throughout the country.

Originally formed as "Bridleways Auckland" in 2007, as the result of a horse riding workshop held by the ARC (Auckland Regional Council). The name was changed to NZ Horse Recreation to recognise the wider need for an organisation to work on projects throughout the country. NZ Horse Recreation is now an Incorporated Society.

We welcome all 'equines' including donkeys and mules, and all equine people whether you own, drive or ride.

We are sport, breed and club agnostic; individuals who just like to look at their horses in the paddock are as welcome as those who aspire to compete at top level.

Contacts
Our Partners

Our Objectives:

To promote community participation in healthy recreation involving the horse.
To promote, create, protect and maintain for the community; public rights of way and of access for ridden and driven horses over public roads, highways, footpaths, bridleways, carriageways, public paths and through public parks, open spaces or other land.
To promote and advance the education, training and safety of the public in all matters relating to the horse.
To research and publish equine related information for the benefit of the community.
To promote and facilitate the prevention of cruelty, neglect or harm to horses and to promote the relief, safety, sanctuary, rescue and welfare of horses in need of care, attention and assistance.
To promote the use, breeding, well-being, safety, environment, health and management of the horse for the public benefit.
To encourage all equestrians regardless of sporting discipline, club affiliation or on-affiliation to work together in the community, and to create links with other communityorganisations to advance common goals.

Long term goal: To become a recognised National Recreation Organisation (NRO); working on behalf of all horses and riders.

Why Join?

In New Zealand there is no national body representing all horses or riders\drivers. The ESNZ does not include recreational riders or the promotion of the horse for recreation, and health as one of its roles. At the moment recreational riders are reliant on pony clubs, sports clubs or individuals to represent them.

Other sports have well organised bodies that represent recreational users (as well as competitors) - that's why they are getting better access for their sports! It's time we riders got more organised and got a fair share of the recreational access.

All members receive a regular newsletter to keep up to date with current activities and projects. We abide by Privacy Principles and will not provide your membership information for other purposes. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Who Can or Should Join?

Every rider and horse owner! We need as many riders as possible to sign up and show support for riding issues. Going to a Council or Government agency with 300 or 3000 names is much more effective than turning up on your own.

There is no body or group that represents recreational riders, I hope that we can begin to work together and gain more riding access through better advocacy.

Our newsletter let's you know about projects and events, and about submissions that are open and results to those we have made.

Clubs and sports groups are encouraged to affiliate, pass information on to members, and collaborate on submissions. All in the horse world should be concerned with the profile (or lack of it) of horse sports and recreation, and with the dire lack of horse recreation space. It is all our responsibility to do something about it.

What Does it Cost to Join?

At the moment joining is Free. Our rules have been set up so that there will always be a Free membership option (Social Membership), because it is so important for us to be able to communicate with and mobilise recreational riders.

We are completely voluntary. We rely on members to provide ideas, photos, local riding information for the website and work on campaigns to increase recreational riding areas. We will fundraise for projects that create trails, or provide access infrastructure such as horse friendly gates or stiles.

JOIN NOW!

What Can Members Do?

We want active, participating members. All members are encouraged to proactively work in their area, at whatever tasks they have the time for or interest in. These tasks include:

Keep an eye on local papers for horse riding Issues. Councils put public notices out about new bylaws and issues that affect recreation or horse riding. It is important that we have the opportunity to have our say.

Send in Information about local riding opportunities. Information about your local area is important, we rely on you to tell the rest of us about your area. Take photos, and send them in (or send a link to a photo album you have created online). Riding information is published on NZ Bridleways www.nzbridleways.info

Contribute to Submissions. Our mailing list is used to keep you informed about all submissions that will be created with our group's name on it. In our submissions area you can find examples and snippets that are freely available for re-use.

Create Local Groups or Volunteer to be the local Contact for your area. Create your own group; investigate local riding trails, lobby for better access to parks, and see if you can get horse access onto trails (or create a trail). Not sure about organising a group? Volunteer to be a local representative for your area.

Can I be more involved?

YES! Please volunteer to help. You can create a local sub-group in your area or work with the National body.
If you have a good network of contacts in your area, have special skills that will assist us in fundraising or other activities or just have time and motivation to offer, please do contact me.

Clubs, organisations and groups can partner with NZ Recreational Horse Riders

Existing clubs, and organisations are encouraged to partner with us, and keep their members up to date with news. If possible have an interested person in your club assigned as Recreational Advocacy Liaison, to be the point of contact and relay information between your club committee and our group. Learn more about partnering

We promote open and transparent communication and abide by the Privacy Principles.

NZ Horse