Answers to some common questions about riding and competing at Woodhill Sands.
We have lots of ways of advertising our events. You can like our Facebook page, click onto our Event calendar on the home page of our website, subscribe to our regular newsletter, or check out our events on the Evo Events Entries web page https://www.evoevents.co.nz/. Also look out for our calendars at equestrian supply stores around the Auckland area.
Most show entries are managed online through www.evoevents.co.nz. We prefer payment at the time of making your online entry through Evo Events using Poli (internet banking) or Stripe (credit card). If you have any technical issues and payment cannot be made then please pay directly to our bank account with the date of the show you are entering as reference and the surname of the person entered. Your entry will not be downloaded until payment is confirmed. If making a manual payment the payments should go to: The Woodhill Sands Trust 12-3019-0013702-00
You may transfer, cancel or receive a full refund for any scratching prior to the shows close of entry . After close of entry with a Vet or Doctors' certificate you can get a refund of up to 75% of your entry fee only (Ground Fee and Admin fee is non-refundable) Please email info@woodhillsands.co.nz to request a refund. If you do not have a doctor or vet certificate but feel you have an extraordinary reason please send this to us for scratching and this will be reviewed, on a case by case basis.
Click here to checkout our events at Woodhill Sands.
There are some areas that we don't want horses to access. These places are for spectators only or are closed to preserve ground quality. They include the grass area in front of the office and kiosk. The grass area by toilets, any of the grass arenas and up behind the water jump over winter.
Yes you can. For overnight use bookings are required, as are booking for day yards at our larger shows. These must be requested at the time of completing your online entry on Evo Events and paid for as part of your entry fees. Rates for the yards are outlined in the information about each show.
It is highly unlikely that we will cancel a show because it’s raining. We have an all-weather surface to ride on and all weather car parking. The main reason for cancellation would be if conditions were considered dangerous, for example lightning or high winds. If this does happen we will advise through our website and Facebook page. We will also try to directly contact anyone entered.
Non registered, low level events such as our winter series (Dressage, Show Jumping, Show Hunter and Mini ODE's), grassroots and training events and for twilight series, you are welcome to ride in casual (but tidy) attire. Plaiting is optional. For shows with registered classes you must wear the correct attire as dictated by the disciplines rules.
That is sometimes possible - it is best to contact the shows secretary or our Venue Manager for Woodhill Sands events, to check if the group allows it. Woodhill Sands events we usually do allow this, however you may be restricted to where you can ride and a ground fee is applicable so please check with the office prior to riding.
We do offer casual open days, grass roots training days and clinics where you can ride casually or have a lesson. Outside of these times you may be able to come in and ride casually or have a lesson at Woodhill Sands. To arrange this please contact our Venue Manager info@woodhillsands.co.nz to see if this is possible. Riders pay the ground fee per horse to ride at the venue.
You can only use the cross country jumps at a practise cross country event or a clinic. We restrict use of cross country fences to these times, as many are portable and require pinning to be safe to jump. Riders jumping cross country must at all times wear a back protector and have someone with them.
Outlined below are some of the general areas you should be aware of. Specific events will also have additional considerations which will be provided to those attending the event.
WHS H & S Policy.
Event H & S Policy.
At competitions no leading horses off other horses.
All accidents/falls/breakages must be reported to the office at events or phoned through as soon as possible
Please be aware of hazards present at all times and may include; cars, trucks, motorbikes moving and backing in the horse car park. Loose animals (if accidentally freed - sometimes at speed) Horses tied to vehicles or ridden. Open waterways.
Please be a courteous rider and handler, if you are having trouble controlling your horse, be aware of yours and others safety. Horses that kick out whilst tied up must be kept on their truck or float or yarded, horses that kick out whilst ridden MUST display a red ribbon in their tail.
Riders absolutely MUST always wear safety helmets whilst mounted.
Stallions must be identified by wearing stallion tags at all times and cannot be left tied to vehicles. They must be supervised at all times.
Here is a map of our yards.
Here is a map of the Woodhill Sands venue.
Click here to download map