Helensville Riding School's horses are renowned for their calmness. Photo / Jason Dorday
Thomas the grey Arab is so graceful he puts the youngsters to shame. He's a bit slower than he used to be, but carries nervous, ham-handed newbies with kindness and grace, his neck arched, tail raised, ears pricked.
Thomas responds willingly to my (sometimes) confused requests to walk, trot, and canter, to bend around circles, move sideways. He reminds me why I love the sitting trot and how much fun it is to canter. But, most importantly, he has helped reignite one of my first and most enduring loves - the love of horses.
Horses and ponies cast an early spell on me. I was an avid reader of Jill books, obsessed with Black Beauty, slavishly followed Mark Todd and Charisma's Olympic escapades. By the age of 13 I was allowed a pony. Summer evenings spent trekking through the (then) countryside of Albany were joyous but my lack of proper instruction inevitably led to falls and frights, and my riding adventure ended about age 16.
More than 20 horse-free years have passed since, but I'm finally back in the saddle. My lessons at Helensville Riding School have been a revelation and a joy. At 40, riding isn't what it used to be. My body is older and creakier. Every slight misstep or trip induces a jolt of fear. I have to remind myself to breathe, to be calm, to keep my heels down, hands steady. But there's so much joy - the affectionate nibbles on the cheek, the moments when you nail a transition or ride a perfect circle - and these moments make the trepidation worthwhile.
Adult riders seem to be popping out of the woodwork these days. I find kindred horsey spirits in all sorts of places, and there are online forums dedicated to adult riders.
Returning to riding, or starting as an adult, may be a bit of a challenge, but it's rewarding.
And there are plenty of places where horse-mad adults can connect with these beautiful creatures.
Helensville Riding School is run by Sandi Rayner, a former horse wrangler/rider, trick trainer, and head of department on television shows Xena Warrior Princess and Hercules.
The school specialises in teaching adults who are new or returning to riding. She and a friend started the school in 2007, but she has now gone solo and concentrates on getting adults back in the saddle. Rayner, who has been working with horses for 28 years, understands the needs of adult riders.
"I understand their concerns, their fears and their physical pain a lot more. I enjoy the journey with each of my adults, so I decided to put all my energy and focus into that area."
Rayner's horses come from a variety of backgrounds but all are well schooled and calm.
She says her typical clients are "women between 30 and 50 who have ridden when they were young and want to reconnect with horses". She has also taught people up to the age of 80.
As well, she has couples who ride together and fathers who want to ride with their families. She says confidence is the number one issue she encounters with adult riders.
"Lack of confidence is the most common factor in the adult riders who come to me.
"High-achieving adults are the hardest as they become frustrated the quickest. It's a known fact that it is more difficult to learn a new skill as we get older and learning to ride takes time and practise. Many clients can ride only once or twice a week so developing a feel for your horse takes a bit longer."
Sarah Bishell from Diamond Lodge in Kumeu also offers riding lessons for adults. One of her most popular lessons is the "coffee group" on Wednesday mornings. Primarily catering for mothers, this is a relaxed lesson during school hours where people can have a social ride and help with horses, followed by a cup of coffee or tea and cake.
"They do basic work here; it's very relaxing and sociable. We often do treks along the beach or through the forest with a group of about four or five."
She also offers private and group lessons. She says about half her clients are adults, and those who want to advance to competition level are able to use the school horses. "We are happy to let the horses go to competitions if the riders are our clients."
If time or money is prohibitive, an occasional horse trek can go some way towards sating your horsey inclinations. Ti Tree Hills Horse Treks in Waiwera offers treks for adults. Run by Ann Wech, Ti Tree Hills Treks is set on 80ha of hill and bush land and offers beautiful views over north Whangaparaoa's eastern coast.
The trekking horses are suitable for a wide range of skill levels - from beginner to more advanced - and treks are tailored to the rider's requirements. "If the riders want to trot or canter that's fine, if they want a quieter ride that's also fine," she says.
Kawhia Ocean Beach Horse Treks is also a great way to get in the saddle. Taking riders along the beautiful black sands of Kawhia Harbour, the treks can be tailored to your requirements.
I spent a blissful afternoon riding a chestnut Arabian called Gaia, learning about the Maori history of the area from owner Craig Taylor and watching in awe as his two young sons galloped down sand dunes on spirited ponies.
For many adult riders, getting on a horse for the first time is the fulfilment of a lifelong dream. Jessica Sanders had a childhood love of horses but only recently has she had the time and money to learn to ride.
The part-time practice nurse and mum of one took up riding this year and has found it challenging and rewarding.
"It can be tiring and it takes a while to get good at it," she says. "But I love those moments when everything is going right, when it seems easy and the horse is responsive. And you can't think of anything else when you are riding."
It's not just the women who are getting in the saddle; the blokes are doing it, too. Cath and Paul Elliot are learning to ride together. Cath started lessons a few years back, and Paul decided to learn as well.
"I used to ride on occasional treks with my wife but was never very good. Then I had a fall and had a bad landing on a rock, so when Cath started having lessons I thought I should learn too so I could go riding more safely."
He says it's rewarding spending time around horses and he enjoys the thrill factor of riding.
"I love being able to go fast and stay on," he says. "And it's really nice to spend time around the horses.
Competing is an exciting (and nerve-racking) component of horse riding. For adult riders who are a little further down the track with their riding, there are a number of adult-only riding clubs that can be joined.
Waitemata Riding Club is for people who are over-21 and are looking for a relaxed, friendly club in which to compete. President Amber Disley says the emphasis of the club is "having a go".
There is no dress code (although a correct helmet and footwear are required) and the club welcomes those who are new to the sport.
It conducts around two events a month during the season, which includes seminars
and competitions in dressage and show jumping. Membership is $40 a year, and competition entry fees are also reasonable.
See wrc.org.nz.
Other adult riding clubs include Papatoetoe Adult Riding Club in South Auckland, and H.O.R.S.E (or Hamilton Older Riders Social Equitation Club) in Waikato.
There are also many Equestrian Sport New Zealand-affiliated groups throughout the country that offer competitions at all levels for adult riders. Events include show jumping, dressage and eventing. See nzequestian.org.nz for more information.
Whether I end up competing (it will be a few years off if I do), there's no denying the wonderful thrill of taking up riding after all these years.
It seems that once a pony girl, always a pony girl.
Riding schools for adults
Helensville Riding School, 80 Te Pua Rd, Helensville. Private lessons are $70 for 45 minutes to an hour, lessons for two are $60 an hour, and group lessons are $50 an hour. See helensvilleridingschool.co.nz or call Sandi on 021 264 8469.
Diamond Lodge, 132 Murawai Valley Rd, Waimauku. Coffee group runs from 9.30-11.30am every Wednesday. This relaxed and social ride costs $45 and includes drinks and cake. One-hour private rides cost $65 if using a school horse and $45 if using your own horse. One-hour group lessons are $45 an hour. See diamondlodgeequestrian.co.nz or call 0275 702 488.
Franklin Riding School, 68 Thomas Rd, Manukau City. Adult group lessons take place on Thursday mornings ($65 for a casual lesson), as well as Saturday and Sunday. Adults are also welcome to join the after-chool classes. Private lessons are also available ($90 with school horse). See franklinridingschool.co.nz or call 021 0264 7913.
Maree Green Equestrian, 237 Old North Rd, Kumeu. Adult lessons are available for $60 for one-hour private, or $45 for one-hour group. See mareegreenequestrian.co.nz or phone 09 412 8481.
Waikato Equestrian Centre, 1340 Pukete Rd, RD8, Hamilton. Adult group lessons ($40) are on a Tuesday night from 6.30pm-7.30pm. Half-hour private lessons ($40) are available from Tuesday to Saturday. See horses.net.nz or call 07 849 6756.
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