Rough Island Equestrian Park

26/05/2024

Tasman District Council has installed a new Horse only track on Rabbit Island. There is room for float parking and it starts just after the bridge between Rough Island and Rabbit Island. There is a small step over entrance way to prevent bikes and it leads you through the forest coming out on the beach.
The existing Float parking next to the beach is still there and doesnt change but you can step over the not so small step over to join the new track an enter the beach that way instead of the existing beach entrance where you mix with unaware people/wedding parties etc. You are still able to use this entrance if the step over is too large for you (we have passed on feedback about this as ponies also use the beach).
Big thank you to TDC for providing for horses, we do appreciate having a track only for horses.

*disclaimer on the map - Its not TDC map and is indicative only, I haven't ridden yet.

02/05/2024

The form for the arena membership can be obtained on this link https://forms.office.com/r/jNQBR7nTwH
Note the bank account details can be found on this link also.

Thank you for your application to join our Rough Island Equestrian Park Arena Membership Group. Your yearly subscription will give you access to any of the three amazing professionally designed and built areans, we have situated at our TDC Equestrian Park situation on Rough Island, Nelson.  The...

25/04/2024

Closed
Arena 1 and 2 will be closed for grading and arena set up for dressage this weekend from 1pm today. The western arena is still open for members.

24/04/2024

Saturday 27th April 10am

Our cross country jumps are desperately in need of some tlc. We need some people to come and help us with fixing some jumps. There will be a working bee this Saturday 10am start to fix some of the jumps and make them safe again. If you can bring a hammer and wire cutters that would be great. Also if anyone can bring a w**d wacker theres some tidying around jumps to be done.

Theres also a working bee at the same time to help tidy the dressage arena and shed ready to look amazing for the winter dressage series. So plenty jobs to do to help our equestrian park ready for enjoyment.

23/04/2024

Att Rough Island Arena Members. Can you please lock the arenas before leaving the park. I’ve had multiple reports of the gates not being locked properly. Thank you.

21/03/2024

This sunday Waimea pony club is hosting a first start competition. The cross country on the western side of the island near the new toilet is closed
It’s ready for a competition on the weekend. It is easy to see as it’s numbered and flagged.
Your still welcome to use the rest of the cross country areas and this doesnt affect use of the arenas.

27/02/2024

Let’s keep the memberships coming in. The 1st of March is this Friday and we’ve had a fantastic response so far. The membership application link is below.

The Rough Island Equestrian Park Board has made the decision to close the arenas at the park for unlimited general use by the public from the 1st of March 2024.
This decision hasn't been taken lightly but with the use of the arenas not always in alignment with the rules of the park, it was decided to protect the surfaces and allow the correct usage of the arenas that they will be locked for casual public riding. The five user groups located at the equestrian park will still have access to the arenas as per their lease agreements for rallies and club days. For those that use the arenas regularly or with a number of horses, the park board would like to offer them an annual membership to use the arenas by the way of a lock code to the gate. This access would be subject to the arenas not being booked privately, by a user group and/or event as per the park diary on the website.
As always we encourage all park users to remember that we rely on the payment of levies for the on-going maintenance of the park facilities.
For those interested in an annual membership or more information this can be obtained on the link https://forms.office.com/r/jNQBR7nTwH
Any queries please feel free to email [email protected].

25/02/2024

The Rough Island Equestrian Park Board has made the decision to close the arenas at the park for unlimited general use by the public from the 1st of March 2024.
This decision hasn't been taken lightly but with the use of the arenas not always in alignment with the rules of the park, it was decided to protect the surfaces and allow the correct usage of the arenas that they will be locked for casual public riding. The five user groups located at the equestrian park will still have access to the arenas as per their lease agreements for rallies and club days. For those that use the arenas regularly or with a number of horses, the park board would like to offer them an annual membership to use the arenas by the way of a lock code to the gate. This access would be subject to the arenas not being booked privately, by a user group and/or event as per the park diary on the website.
As always we encourage all park users to remember that we rely on the payment of levies for the on-going maintenance of the park facilities.
For those interested in an annual membership or more information this can be obtained on the link https://forms.office.com/r/jNQBR7nTwH
Any queries please feel free to email [email protected].

21/02/2024

The new toilets are being constructed tomorrow and we ask park users to stay away from the work area and beaware that there will be machinery operating. The existing toilets are still in use. The new toilets will be much nicer and not so stinky. Thank you TDC for our new toilets!

31/10/2023

To all park users - tree fellers are at the park this afternoon chopping and chipping trees that were cut down after the tree fell on the weekend- please be aware to keep away from this area and it will be very noisy!

22/10/2023

Just to let all park users know there is a premiere league dressage event this weekend at the park.

If you are planning a ride this weekend be aware all yards are booked by the dressage group as are both the arenas - these will also be closed later in the week for preparation for the weekends competition .

11/10/2023

Welcome to the new Rough Island Equestrian Park officers voted at the AGM in August.

Our president - Sharon Higgins
Vice president - Sharon Williams
Treasurer- Liz Harvey
Secretary- Debbie Heaphy
Health and safety- Valerie Edgar
Repairs and Maintenance officer- Sonia McMeekin
Booking officer- Emma Nath
Fundraising and Grants- Dawn Howard

We are looking forward to another great year at the park for riders!

18/09/2023

Arena 1 will remain closed for today as arena levelling continues. Massive thank you to Julie and Donald Fraser and Jan Morice for doing such an awesome and much needed job for the benefit of all of our equestrian community.

17/09/2023

Arena 1 will be levelled and graded today so will be closed for use. Arena 2 is open as usual.

11/09/2023

Arenas are closed until further notice due to the rain yesterday leaving them pretty soggy. This will help keep the arenas in good shape.

17/08/2023

Arena 1 will close tomorrow at 1pm to allow for the arena to be prepared for the Marlborough trophy on Sunday. It will remain closed through Saturday. Arena 2 will be open on friday and saturday for your use.
Good luck to everyone competing on sunday.

08/08/2023

Dont forget The rough Island equestrian park board AGM is tonight at 7pm. Armadillos Hope to see you there.

21/07/2023

Arena 1 is now open. It received a thorough raking yesterday, the surface is good and the sun is shining. Happy riding!

18/07/2023

The hole in arena 1 has been fixed and its good news. There is no damage to the base of the arena, no sign of subsidence and the base is firm. It was initially reported as being a rabbit hole and we agree. Another rabbit hole was found near arena 2 in the grass which has been filled in so please be vigilant for any more. We will be inspecting the arenas again after the rain on thursday but until then arena 1 will stay closed.

13/07/2023

Rough Island Equestrian Park Board
The date has been set for the AGM.
August the 9th 7pm at Armadillos
See you there.

13/07/2023

Arena 1 is currently closed due to the hole that has appeared. Please bear with us until it is fixed in the next few days. Initial inspection by a builder shows there isn't any damage under the base but this will be confirmed when it's fixed.

11/07/2023

A hole has appeared on the surface of arena 1. It has been marked by a couple of cones so that we can find it again to repair it properly but in the mean time please dont move the cones. Thank you.

24/06/2023

With the rain we have had and the current forecast the Arenas are closed due to the water currently sitting on the surface. Sorry for the inconvenience.