Country Magic Ltd is a pony ride service at 471 Waiau Pa Road in Waiau Pa, a rural corner of Franklin south of Auckland, and holds a five-star Google rating. A first pony ride is usually short and led: a handler walks at the pony's head while the child sits in the saddle, so parents stay close and young riders get used to the height and movement. The best operators keep calm, well-handled ponies and take time to match each child to the right animal, letting nervous first-timers set the pace. Helmets are standard, and closed shoes and long trousers make the outing more comfortable. Arriving a few minutes early so a child can meet and pat the pony first is a trick regulars swear by. Set among the paddocks and lifestyle blocks of Waiau Pa, Country Magic is well placed to give Franklin children their first taste of life in the saddle.