Sharon Higgins

Coach Sharon Higgins’s goal at Golden Hills Riding Centre is to provide an environment where students can enjoy and achieve a solid foundation in the equestrian discipline. Providing a friendly but professional atmosphere where students can ride and train at their own speed and learn the skills to both  care for and ride a horse. Students choose to ride within an arena environment or ride out along our many trail ride options which include idyllic farm tracks with incredible Tasman Bay views. We have a range of specifically selected and trained horses to cater for all levels of riding abilities and disciplines.  The Riding School has been operating now for over 7 years and has a client base of both Children and Adults.

Sharon has been breeding and training horses for over 20 years with a life time of riding experience in many different disciplines.  Her passion is now Western Riding in which she competes nationally on her show team of horses most of which have been bred and trained at her Riding Centre.  Sharon often travels nationally and internationally training and Judging but when she is home she enjoys sharing her knowledge with her many keen young and mature riders.

Georgia Higgins

Sharon fostered and developed Georgia’s passion for riding from as soon as she could walk. Georgia was lucky enough to grow up in a passionate and supportive equestrian environment and by around 10 years old she was hooked. Dabbling in both English and Western riding in the younger years, by the time Georgia was a teenager western was the discipline of choice. Sharon and Georgia made numerous trips around both the North and South Island attending youth camps, local shows and national events. Georgia was lucky enough to have a mum who could breed her next mount so almost every year a new youngster was shown and campaigned. Georgia was lucky enough to represent New Zealand via the AQHA-NZ Youth Team 4 times throughout her youth career, competing in Canada, United States, Germany and Australia. She also spent time training and riding in the United States once finishing high school. She is now in her final year of study to become a veterinarian.