Ranchlands Equestrian Centre closes after 50 years of operation

Jenny Haines is closing the Ranchlands Equestrian Centre in Townsville, Queensland, after running the school for 50 years.

She and her husband, Lew, plan to retire and travel around Australia in a caravan following the conclusion of their final riding lessons at the end of the month. The school is recognized as the longest-running riding school in Queensland under a single owner.

Over five decades, Haines taught thousands of students, including many who represent third and second generations of riders who have visited the facility. The school focused on more than just riding techniques. Haines noted that her perspective on horses shifted after she hosted a program for veterans where the animals bonded with the participants on the ground without any riding involved. Students often reported that the experience provided personal growth and connection beyond the physical act of riding.

Theresa Robertson, a former student who later became a teacher, described the lessons as moments of stillness that shaped her own teaching style. The closure marks the end of a lifestyle that Haines and Lew maintained for half a century.