Come the first Saturday in March it's tools down for both town and country folk making a beeline to the Parikino Horse Sports extravagana.
The annual event on the Shaw's farm on the Whanganui River Rd is now in its 90th year and has morphed into almost a religion of sorts for many.
One of the many comments in the Parikino Horse Sports' Facebook page after last Saturday's 89th running was that it was "New Zealand's best kept secret".
While it is organised and run by the Parikino Horse Sports Club with help from a large band of volunteers, the day features a wide array of activities including woodchopping, kids' events and shepherds' events to run alongside the horse sports.
Both town and country folk flock to the wide open spaces of the Shaws' farm where people camp overnight - the grounds even have toilets and ablution blocks.