Please note - we are not affiliated to ESNZ in any way.
Our rules are as follows:
EQUIPMENT
All riders must wear safety-approved hard hats when mounted at all WRC events.
Waitemata Riding Club adheres to the ESNZ safety helmet rules in effect from 1st of August 2017. From 1st August 2023 all helmets must meet the yellow tag standard and be tagged as such. Tagging is carried out at most pony clubs and at some Woodhill Sands events.
There will be no gear checks. Please be responsible for having legal and safe gear. Remember if you are unsure check with the organisers.
ESNZ helmet current safety standards, and frequently asked questions can be found HERE
Stallions are not permitted at WRC events and all horses must be 3+ years.
MEMBER CONDUCT
All members and their guests are required to behave in a sportsmanlike manner at WRC events. Abusive, derogatory and unsporting behaviour is not tolerated.
Please be courteous to other riders. Always assume the horse riding nearby is green. Never ride up close behind another horse and always look up and watch where you are going.
Please ride to your level - be fair to other members.
No one except yourself is allowed to warm your horse up for a competition.
EVENTS – ENTRY, CANCELLATIONS AND CONDUCT
Event entries received after midnight on the cut off day will be considered a "late entry" and go on a wait list. Late entries will incur a $10 charge which MUST be paid before you receive your number and/or complete or participate in event.
Unless stated otherwise in event programme all refunds related to scratchings must be accompanied by a Doctor, Farrier, Vet, Horse Dentist or Physiotherapist Certificate for the relevant horse or rider. Refunds are for 75% of event entry fee and will be paid by Direct Credit only. Refund Requests must be received within 7 days of the event to be considered.
Scratchings are to be sent to the event organiser via email (or a phone call if they have given you their number), we ask that members notify us as early as possible.
If you do not let us know you are scratching, then you will not be eligible for a refund.
Event cancellations will be updated on the main page of the WRC website and on the WRC Events & News Facebook page as soon as cancellation is confirmed. Waitemata Riding Club News & Events
Entry fees are to be paid prior to competition day unless otherwise stated.
Each horse can do a maximum of two tests in dressage events; a maximum of three rounds in Show Hunter/Show Jumping events and two rounds for a derby (or as otherwise advised in the event details).
Be prepared to ride five minutes either side of your dressage draw time.
No ESNZ registered horses in training classes please.
You are not permitted to enter the dressage arena prior to the judge's bell/horn.
If a horse is pulled up at an event by a judge for being lame or uneven and subsequently eliminated, then this decision is final, and no further discussion will be entered into.
Dressage tests may be commanded/called, your caller is the only person allowed to stand close to the arena while you are competing (within 1m). All horses and spectators must stay at least 3m away from the arena where possible.
Please be consistent with your horse’s name when entering events - otherwise your horse may miss out on winning a cup!
Dogs are generally not welcome at the venues we use - if in doubt please leave them at home.
Our events are open to members in the first instance. At the discretion of the event organiser, non-members may enter an event but will be placed on a wait list with priority entry going to members, any available spaces will be allocated to a non-member wait list after entry close off.
HORSE ABUSE POLICY
No person may abuse a horse, mounted or unmounted, during an event run by WRC. ‘Abuse’ means an action or omission which causes or is likely to cause pain or unnecessary discomfort to the horse and is determined at the discretion of the event organiser.
This includes without limitation the following:
- To whip or beat a horse excessively
- To use spurs excessively or persistently
- To jab the horse in the mouth with the bit or any other device
- To compete using an exhausted, lame or injured horse
- To leave a horse without adequate water, food or weather protection
- To use any device or equipment which causes or may cause excessive pain to the horse
Any person witnessing abuse must report it to a member of the Organising Committee during an event.
HORSE ABUSE PENALTIES:
A verbal warning from one of the Organising Committee at the event, and a written follow up after the event.
A second verbal warning at the same event will result instant disqualification from the event.
Further verbal warning at a subsequent event, and a written follow up to this will result in suspension of membership from the club for the remainder of that WRC year, and loss of any points accumulated.
The person accused has a right to an appeal which should be submitted in writing to the WRC President. The appeal will be tabled and considered at an official WRC committee meeting, final appeal decision will be by majority vote at this meeting and the outcome communicated back to the member.
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