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Where To Find Horse Riding Work Exchanges In New Zealand
Today we are highlighting work exchange hosts that can offer horse riding opportunities in New Zealand, whether on a lifestyle block, farm or business centred around horses.
Experience rural living, a variety of animals and developing sustainable systems whilst sharing knowledge and fun in Leeston
Where: A small farm located around 40 minutes south of Christchurch. The host breeds and trains sport horses provides a foaling service for outside mares, raises orphan lambs and grows some crops. You will be treated as one of the family and likely get dragged along to the pub quiz.
What will I do? There is always plenty of work or projects to do around the house and property from painting, fencing, gardening, feeding animals, building projects and maintenance. Also, help is needed with grooming the horses.
Qualifications: Suitably experienced riders will have opportunities to ride horses.
Horses, cars, gardens
Where: A 27 acre property 45 minutes from Auckland, currently home to two busy osteopaths, 14 horses, 2 dogs and a cat.
What will I do? Wife is also an artist but is currently mostly into combined driving horse trials and needs help with the horses. You will be helping with harnessing and backstepping, and grooming. Other tasks can include cooking evening meals, gardening, home maintenance, building, and painting. Husband is into classic cars and knife making.
Qualifications: No previous experience of driving is required but competent horse handling is a must (by at least one person if a couple). A reasonable level of riding skills is needed.
Help us with horses and more in the Maruia, South Island
Where: In the Buller region of the West Coast, South Island, the Maruia Valley is central to everywhere and in the middle of nowhere. There’s a horse and cart to get about on.
What will I do? Working with and caring for the horses, mainly outdoors, feeding, mucking out, cleaning and maintaining equipment, western riding and training, building horse areas, gardening, some land clearing and painting.
Qualifications: Good skills with horses. The host is happy to help you learn western riding but you will need to be confident with and around horses.
Help with horses and learn about holistic rehabilitation
Where: Half an hour from the Bay of Islands, on the top of Okaihau hill in Northland, and just a short drive to forest pools and bush walks.
What will I do? Join these hosts for a natural horsemanship experience, learning to get along with horses and living with the land and farm animals. They are looking for people who want to help on the farm, farm animal care, in the garden, cooking, and with the horses. You will learn how to run a sustainable, biodynamic farm, grow and prepare your own vegetables and meat, the basics of horsemanship and animal care, the basics of trimming hooves, raising cows, sheep and chooks, and much more. Riding lessons are available once a week.
Qualifications: Preference is given to people who are interested in their way of living and would like to stay for at least three to four months.
Help with horses in North Canterbury
Where: A small family equestrian business in North Canterbury, specialising in training and breeding showjumpers. During downtime, they take their horses to the beach and the river and they frequently travel around the South Island to compete.
What will I do? Mostly general handling, grooming and looking after horses. General maintenance and gardening around the farm. This is a great opportunity to see how a busy stable in New Zealand is run.
Qualifications: Riding is available for a competent rider and a car is available to someone with a full license.
We need experienced riders for young/green horses over the summer
Where: On 2,300 acres of beautiful land in the mountains near Hawarden, North Canterbury in the South Island of New Zealand. running sheep and beef cattle. They also breed their own horses and run a horse trekking business.
What will I do? You will learn a lot about horsemanship and working with horses in a beautiful area with stunning scenery. They need experienced riders to help break in their young horses, riding them over the summer and taking them to the next level.
Qualifications: You must be able to mount a horse from the ground and be athletic enough to ride their young horses. They’ll turf you out if you are not good enough!
Small farm with event horses, gardens and orchard
Where: Near Martinborough, in the Ruakokoputuna River Valley.
What will I do? Help out in the vegetable garden, home orchard and with the sheep, cows, chickens and spirited young horses. Household tasks include cooking and property maintenance.
Qualifications: Experience with riding and handling horses is required, as is a driving license. A minimum one month commitment is required.
Image courtesy Joanna Penn.
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