Background

Onewhero is a small rural community in the Franklin District, southwest of Tuakau and Pukekohe. It is predominantly farming in nature with market gardening, dairy and beef/sheep farming with more small blocks appearing in the last decade. The district has a historical association with horses and riding and the Onewhero Riding Club existed informally for a number of years.

In January 2003  there was sufficient interest in the community for the establishment of a riding group and a portion of the reserve land in the centre of Onewhero was to be used for this purpose. 

A newsletter advertising a community meeting was distributed by the local rural delivery operators and a group of around 19 people from the community attended an inaugural meeting on Wednesday 16th July 2003.

The group provides opportunities for members to receive instruction and theory related to riding and care of ponies and horses.

 

Current plans and needs.

The Onewhero Family Riding Group has to date received support from the local community and the committee and fundraising subcommittee will continue to work at maintaining and enlarging the base of support.

Improvements over the last few years include hitching rails and the purchase of cross country jumps. In the 2009-2010 season the group sold members keys to the reserve, for the first time, at an additional cost so they could access the facilities and this was a very successful initiative.

Currently the group want to pursue the possibility of establishing a large grass arena of approximately 100 x 60 m.

Membership has steadily grown since the establishment of the group in 2003 and the group continues to attract adults, young people and children as members.