Wonderland Equestrian is a horse riding school on Tairere Road, Ti Point, a few minutes from Matakana in North Auckland. It takes a horse-led, heart-centred approach, in which children learn to ride and to care for horses. Lessons are for children aged 7 and over, and run for about 60 minutes, either one-on-one or in groups of up to four. They include catching, grooming and tacking up the pony as well as riding. There is a weight limit of 85 kg for ridden lessons.
The school has a floodlit all-weather arena and undercover yards, so lessons run in all weather, with unmounted learning when it is unsafe to ride. Neurodiverse riders are welcome, and families are asked to contact the school about individual needs. Parents describe the teacher as patient and calm, and say their children grew in confidence. Our pick in Matakana for a child's first horse-riding lessons in a supportive setting.