from horsetalk.co.nz (dated 15apr11)

The Waikato Equestrian Centre will be alive with horses and people at the end of the month - and all in aid of earthquake-damaged Christchurch.

The Ride a Horse for Christchurch event is the brainchild of Lynley Schollum, who wanted to help in the wake of the February 22 quake, which killed more than 180 people and seriously damaged thousands of homes.

"I decided to run an event to raise money," she explained.

"I started a Facebook page titled 'Ride a Horse for Christchurch', emailed a few friends and local businesses, and contacted the Waikato Equestrian Centre to see when there was a free weekend."

The event, she said, "took off".

"I never expected it to snowball and grow like it has, what started as an idea to get a few friends and fellow riders together to raise some money has turned out to be much, much bigger."

The Waikato Equestrian Centre donated the use of its grounds for the weekend of April 30-May 1.

A wide range of events are planned, including showjumping, minicross, dressage, a ribbon day and several novelty events, including some dog activities.

There will also be a class for those attending the Taupo Three-Day-Event to ride through their tests and jump a showjumping round at the required height.

"We have the support of Equestrian Sports New Zealand and Kevin Hansen and the Horse of the Year team, who have donated a HOY 2011 Trophy rug as a special prize.

"We were going to run an auction on the same day but people were so generous and it got so big we had to run it on line and it raised over $11,000."

Schollum said the support has been fabulous. There will be great spot prizes up for grabs, stunning rosettes, garlands and sashes that have been recycled from some of New Zealand's best riders.