Horsepower Experience - Christchurch - 1 adult

A unique and exciting gift with appeal to all ages

The Horsepower experience is simply unforgettable! Nowhere else in the world can a visitor partake in standardbred horseracing along with ‘hands-on’ handling and grooming of some of New Zealand’s great racehorses.

After watching a short video of the Horsepower Experience, visitors are issued with racing silks, a safety helmet, vest and goggles and are then introduced to their horses and supervised while attaching harness. Once harnessed, the sulky is attached and you head out onto the track for a few warm-up laps while you receive your instructions from your licensed driver. By then you will begin to understand the oneness of horse and driver. You may not know what you are doing, but your horse does and, just in case, a professional driver is sitting next to you with another set of reins.

With the warm-up over, you turn your horse to the starting line, positioning yourself alongside the field. Once turned, the horses become very alert. They know race time is about to begin.

A shout and you’re off! The professional drivers have taken the reins and you are along for the ride. For the next four minutes, the adrenaline flow reaches lunar levels. The strength and power these animals possess is staggering. Over the last few hundred metres your horse sprints for the finish line.

After finishing your race, you work alongside your trainer/driver washing down your horse before departing and receiving your driver’s certificate.