Growing with horses, learning for life.
Wonderland Equestrian: Empowering kids through kind horsemanship
OUR PHILOSOPHY
At Wonderland Equestrian we prioritise safety whilst creating a relaxed, encouraging and supportive environment where all children can feel included.
Our philosophy is to create opportunity for the embodiment of life and relational skills through the medium of horses. This means we are learning not only the physical skills of horse riding and horsemanship, but also learning who we are, how to be, and how to be with horses.
Learning to ride is not a linear process, but more of a spiral: sometimes we spiral in, sometimes out as we progress. There are many layers of skills we need to hone before we can begin upgrading our physical riding skills: confidence, managing anxiety/fear, regulating emotions, coordination, fine motor skills, working both hemispheres of the brain, independence and maturity, negotiation skills, clear communication both verbal and through body language/energy, problem solving, adaptability, building physical strength in unique muscle groups... it is a near endless list! We need all of these things working in harmony before we begin to see a final result & get from A to B safely.
What we offer
Wonderland Equestrian offers horse riding/horsemanship lessons to children aged 7yrs & over. We have a wonderful team of safe, reliable horses and ponies to suit almost any rider. Lessons run for approximately 60mins, either one-on-one (private lesson) or in groups of up to four riders.
Our lessons include learning to catch, groom and tack up your pony before you ride. The lessons run in all weather and include unmounted learning when the weather makes it unsafe to ride. There is so much to learn with our equine friends! We welcome neurodiverse riders into all our lessons. Please contact us to discuss your individual needs
Weight limit of 85kgs applies to all ridden lessons.
Your Coach: Alice
Director & Head Coach at Wonderland Equestrian
Alice has been teaching horse riding for over 20 years. She is a true Jack of All trades, with a wide ranging skill set built through a range of jobs with a main focus on working with children both in New Zealand and overseas.
Her strengths are a bone deep passion for everything horses, along with endless empathy and patience which comes through in her coaching.
It has been a life long dream to build an inclusive riding school that puts horses & horse care first, creating a new generation of like-minded, considerate riders.
Our Facilities
We are so lucky to be able to offer a floodlit all weather arena, as well as undercover yards thanks to our fantastic Maintenance Man Dan from Danscape Design Ltd. This means we can run our lessons in all weather, all year round.
We love what we do, and so do you!
Here are a few reviews from our happy clients
When we first came to Alice’s stable, my daughter had ridden a horse once. Now, not only can she ride with confidence, but she’s also learnt so much about caring for and understanding horses.
Alice is an incredible teacher — calm, patient, and genuinely passionate about what she does. She creates such a safe, welcoming space where every child feels supported and encouraged. The ponies are gentle, kind, and clearly loved.
We’ve gained far more than riding skills here — my daughter has grown in confidence, independence, made new friends and found a passion for life. I can’t imagine a better place to learn.
Amazing experience and teacher! Our daughter absolutely loves her lessons with Alice. She’s welcoming, funny, and instantly puts riders at ease.
The sessions are so much more than just riding — students learn the full experience, from tacking up to grooming and preparing the horse, as well as developing their riding skills.
If you’re looking for fun, well-rounded lessons with a supportive and knowledgeable coach, Alice is fantastic!
Alice has created the most amazing, supportive and fun place to learn all things horses. Our son is incredibly shy, Alice and Gizmo created an amazing bond with him that really supported his love for horses and helped him become more confident!
