A three-year sponsorship deal with local Canterbury business Sheds NZ for naming rights of the National Equestrian Centre at McLeans Island is a huge boost for the centre, according to centre committee chairman Kevin Bowden.

Last year the centre, which rents land belonging to the city of Christchurch but managed by Environment Canterbury (ECan), was faced with a huge rent rise, jumping three-fold up from $5000 to $15,000.

While the centre had entered arbitration to negotiate the rent, Mr Bowden said a change was unlikely given that only two of the 28 community/commercial groups that use land on McLeans Island hadn’t agreed outright.

The committee had put charges at the centre up to help cover the rent rise which had met with some resistance from users, but Mr Bowden was quick to point out that an increase was probably long overdue given no increases had occurred in the past decade to help with the rising increases in maintenance. He conceded that there were some charges that may need to be looked at in the future.

Mr Bowden said they were extremely grateful to Sheds NZ for coming on board and their considerable sponsorship would help immensely to the committee’s ability to grow the centre for rider’s benefits.

“It will allow us to continue what we are doing and upgrading facilities, rather than just existing,” he added.

Sheds NZ managing director Kevin Barron said with its growing horse owner’s customer base, the request from the National Equestrian Centre was seen as a natural progression to give something back to the horse society that would benefit all.

It also gave the company the chance to learn more about what was required to do to meet horse owner’s growing needs, he added.

Inquiries for fully finished stable complexes, not just a shed, incorporating stable boxes, sloped non skid floors, anti weave gates, linings, yards, wash down areas, led the company into specialising in the stable market. It has completed stable projects from 1 to 100 stalls in an economical and efficient way.

Sheds NZ have pioneered Softwall® rubber wall linings that provide maintenance free stable wall linings on its gates and dividing walls, meaning less injuries, no broken boards, hygienic and easy to clean, and horses don’t eat it. This product has taken over from timber and plywood.

As a result of its sponsorship it now has a range of arenas from 30m clearspan and envisage a number of these buildings being trialed at the National Equestrian Centre in a win - win for both parties, said Mr Barron.