Ten Good Reasons to give Horse Riding a Go

Horse riding is one of those sports that so many people dreamed of doing as a child but many never got round to. Whether you’ve been toying with the idea of taking it up again recently, or it’s only just occurred to you, we’re here to tell you to go for it!  

1. It improves your balance and coordination.  Being able to balance yourself is one thing, but keeping yourself in balance with another moving animal is quite another!
2.  It’s great for core strength and stability.  Because of the aforementioned balancing on a moving animal thing!
3.  There’s always something new to learn.  Your skill will be constantly developing, and you’ll find out new things about riding, horse care, training and being around others who do the same.
4.  You’ll get to experience that bond with the horse you hear equestrians talking about.  There are moments where you feel like you and the horse are one being. Those are the moments horse riders live for.
5.  You’ll learn self-control.   You have to learn to control your emotions.  You’ll learn a really valuable skill – staying calm and focused, and concentrating on reaching your goal.
6.  You’ll improve your sense of discipline.  Putting dedication and commitment ahead of your daily mood can be a real challenge, but one that will serve you well in life.  Plus, you always feel better after a ride.
7.  You’ll develop killer legs.  That’s why the equestrians love their tight breeches so much – they all have the legs for it!
8.  You’ll learn some serious problem solving skills.  Horses don’t always do things the way we want or expect, so you have to think out of the box and approach the problem in a new way.
9.  You’ll make awesome new friends.  Horse people have one serious thing binding them together, so you’ll always have something to chat about.  Long hacks with someone are a great way to make friends.
10.  You’ll be able to make the most of your holidays.  Imagine going on a horseback safari, being able to trek across mountains and valleys, or having a gallop along a beautiful stretch of empty beach as the sun rises.  

     Welcome to Horse Riding!

    SOURCE:   Adapted from FEI:  https://www.fei.org/stories/top-10-reasons-to-ride

     

    And if you are interested in non-riding or supporting equestrian activities, pop over to our Volunteer section for more.

Membership Options

Competitive Riding Memberships

• Introductory Membership ($54.30)
• Full Membership – Youth (14 & under as of 1 August) ($97.70)
• Full Membership – Adult ($152)

Community Memberships

• Coaches Membership ($54.30)
• Officials Membership ($65.15)
• Owners Membership ($54.30)
• Office Holders Membership ($54.30)
• Volunteers Membership (Free)

All ESNZ memberships are valid for 12 months from date of purchase.

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Want to Compete?

Our five competitive disciplines are Dressage, Endurance & CTR, Eventing, Jumping & Show Hunter, and Para Equestrian. 

Each discipline has different requirements for each level of competition. Check out the links below to find out what you (and your horse) need to compete at each discipline level.

Starting out? Check out our new infographic for more info about our Introductory Membership.

Competition Table of Fees

Please click on the link below to download information on ESNZ Central and ESNZ Discipline fees for 2024-2025.

This table will also help you to determine what you require to enter the discipline level you wish to complete at.