For those behind Harrison Lane, it is all about reinvesting in the industry and community they love so much.
“You get back what you put in,” says Laura Daly who heads the company with Scott Munro – he takes care of the project management and construction programmes while she oversees the admin, sales and marketing side of the growing business.
Harrison Lane offers complete end to end project management for rural properties – taking care of any project right from putting in the driveway to the finishing touches on arenas, landscaping, riding tracks, barns, stables and country homes of all sizes.
Most recently they were responsible for the competition arenas at EQUITANA Auckland but have also done many others. Both sand arenas from EQUITANA were quickly snapped up by clients with Harrison Lane donating some of the left over black sand to the RDA and newly-sponsored rider Laura Inkster.
They’ve been supporting riders and sponsoring events for more than eight years, including the likes of the Auckland Showjumping Group, Auckland Manukau Dressage, Waikato Pony Club, Waikato Equestrian Centre, the Horse of the Year Show and so many more, but that is what it is about for this company who now sponsor the ESNZ Pro-Amateur Rider Series.
“As a company we are well integrated into the wider equestrian community and continue to invest a significant amount of money into the development of services,” says Laura. For EQUITANA, they spent 18 months developing the new surface blend and invested a lot to ensure it was perfect. Feedback from competitors showed they were on the money. “Good feedback spreads and it really is the most powerful advertising tool. Some riders actually emailed us to say thank you for the standard of the surfaces.
We are incredibly proud of how beautifully they performed throughout the rigorous schedule of the four day event.”
Laura says there is a perception that putting in a fibre arena is expensive but when everything is taken into consideration, it’s an investment well worth making. “Sure it has an upfront cost which is higher than a traditional arena but in terms of longevity and performance it is worth it. What value do you place on your horse’s wellbeing and soundness?”
Harrison Lane offer both ebb and flow and free draining arenas with black sand and GGT fibre surfaces. The company works closely with Stable 88 – who are the New Zealand distributor for the GGT fibre product – and Woodhill Group who supply the black sand. “It’s about creating the perfect blend for local conditions.”
The GGT Jump Blend is a geo-tech fibre that gives extra cushioning, better spring, a more secure landing for jumping and retains moisture through high water storage capacity. Coupled with the black sand, which has less glare, limited dust and many other advantages, Laura is confident they are on to a winner.
Everything they sell has been tested and trialled at the company’s ebb and flow base 65mx35m arena. “Often an arena footing consists of a washed silica sand but we have found that using our new mix with the black sand has better binding qualities. The compaction properties of this sand are quite different to washed silica sand with a much higher density and it holds 10 times its own weight in water.”
Laura welcomes anyone considering a new arena to come and test ride the new surface at Harrison Lane HQ at Waiau Pa, Auckland.
Laura is hugely passionate about horses, having ridden since she was nine but only competed across most disciplines in the past 15 years, the last three of those in showjumping. She moved to New Zealand at 21 with the intention of spending nine months here but never left. It was while creating her own rural equestrian property from scratch that she built the skills that allow her to share first-hand with clients ensuring the best end product for all.
For more information, head to www.harrisonlane.co.nz
21 January 2020