Kyrewood Equestrian Centre is situated just 9km outside the Palmerston North city boundary, in the rich farming area of the Kairanga Survey District. This is in the heart of the Manawatu, in the lower North Island of New Zealand.

The property, which consists of 40 hectares (100 acres) of flat land, was established as an equestrian centre in 1989; prior to that it was farmed with sheep, beef and crops. Since the establishment of the equestrian centre approximately half the property has supported a number of horses, but the whole farm has been systematically grazed with sheep and cattle on a rotational basis. There has been sufficient hay and/or haylage cut off the property to support the winter feed of all the horses and cattle on the property.

One five-hectare paddock has been developed as a showground, with care taken in the grazing of this area to maintain a smooth surface. A further five-hectare paddock is also used for the larger shows.

The farm is bounded on the north-west side by the Oroua River. This river offers several recreational opportunities for riding, swimming, fishing, etc. It also provides a sand/silt surface in an area approximately three hectares in size between the river and the main stop-bank, which is excellent for wintering stock, and also for riding during the winter. A further bonus is the plentiful supply of silt for topping the all-weather arenas.

The Buildings

The buildings on the property were purpose-built for the conduct of all activities associated with the equestrian centre. The main building consists of administration offices, stabling, saddling stalls, hosing bay, tack and feed rooms, kitchen, toilets and laundry on the ground floor. Upstairs is a three-bedroom apartment with large lounge, dining area, kitchen and bathroom and two sundecks, one with a spa pool.

The Student Hall consists of a large classroom, three bedrooms, kitchen, tack room, tutors' office, bathroom and laundry, and a three-car garage. The classroom can seat up to 30 students, and can also be used as a social function room.

A building housing 16 saddling stalls was added recently. Included is a lunch room, horse-feed room, utility room and a hosing bay. This has proved ideal when tutors are supervising a large number of students as the open nature of the stalls makes for good visibility. In front of this building are three railed yards, which double as horse or sheep yards. These are alongside the woolshed, used for all sheep shearing, crutching, drenching, etc. In this area also is an eight-horse mechanical horse-walker. This has proved invaluable for the maintenance of condition of racehorses and sporthorses, the education of young horses, and the civilisation of unruly horses. Also in this vicinity are two round lunging yards, one of which is completely enclosed so that horses may be educated without any distraction. There is also a viewing platform outside the yard so that students may watch and learn by observation.

One paddock further away from the main buildings, we come to the accommodation paddock. Here are 26 large, safe yards all made from solid wooden railings for use when competitors stay overnight during shows and events.

The original cowshed, disused since the farm ceased to run dairy cows in the 1970s, has been converted and is now used for the storage of hay and straw, show equipment, chaff cutters, oat-crushers and vehicles. A further large shed completed in 2005 has two open bays for the storage of the horse-truck and the tractor, and also two enclosed areas, one used for farm tools and the other as a feed/tack room for the students. Behind these sheds are two more hosing bays - a popular facility for visitors during shows.

Student Accommodation

As you tour further down the farm you come to Sharland House, the eleven-bedroom student hostel. This provides a large kitchen, a dining room and tv room, an ablution block with showers, toilets and a laundry. All bedrooms have their own tv and are fully furnished.

The final building on the property is a two-bedroom cottage. This has all modern facilities and has been used as additional student accommodation, and staff quarters. It is also used during shows and other events as the secretary's office and the hospitality venue for judges and officials. A two-vehicle carport separates this building from a further ablution block, which is designed for the use of show patrons and campers.

Finally, between Sharland House and The Cottage is a small caravan park. There are 16 powered sites with water available, together with the use of the ablution blocks and laundry. This attracts a steady stream of visitors.

We hope you have enjoyed this brief tour through Kyrewood Equestrian Centre.