For the Waiheke Island Pony Club, this Saturday was set aside for its 50th anniversary celebrations.
But over the weekend, just days out from the big event, a fire ripped through the club house and tack shed, reducing them to ashes.
The club's district commissioner Mair Brooks was there, along with her 10-year-old daughter, when the fire broke out at around 8pm on Saturday night.
"We were just about to start some practising of dressage, and we looked back at the clubhouse and the grounds, and we could see smoke."
The pair immediately headed to the site with hoses and buckets.
"We then had to fight the fire until the local volunteer brigade came."
Brooks said locals spotted the smoke and rushed over to help with firefighting efforts and relocating the horses.
She reflected on a "chaotic" night, with the lights and sirens spooking the animals.
Volunteer firefighters and members of the public worked through the night to put the fire out, but by then, the building was beyond saving.
"We know it's a significant rebuild."
Fortunately, no people or horses were harmed in the fire.
Head coach Shantala Tengblad was in Auckland celebrating some recent wins by club members when she got the call.
"We all got the news that the fire had broken out at the pony club," she recalled.
"I'm getting teary just thinking about it."
A member from way back, Tengblad said the ordeal has been "pretty traumatic for everybody".
"It's hard because we love this club. I've been here for over 30 years.
"I started when I was a kid and I've done full circle back to the club as head coach."
Tengblad said it was particularly difficult to tell the younger members about the incident.
"I think for us it was just thinking about the kids, you know, having to break the news that their club was on fire, their gear had been damaged."
They are still assessing the damage, with the total cost to rebuild still unknown.
"At the moment we know at least one of the buildings is completely gone and the other two are mostly damaged, but it's still hard to put a figure on it."
Fifty years up in flames
Founded in 1973 by local families on Waiheke, Brooks said it took "thousands and thousands of hours of volunteer time" to maintain it over the last 50 years.
"The community has just looked after this club. if you just look around the club there's a cross country course and the jumps there, they're all from the community."
She said the pony club has been an "institution" on the island.
"What we've always thought of the club is that this is a safe haven for kids to be kids on Waiheke.
"We have camps here, they can swim with horses in the sea, it's an amazing environment."
Club 'uplifted' by outpouring of support
Since Saturday's fire, Waiheke locals as well as the pony club community across Auckland have rallied behind the club.
A Givealittle page to help towards rebuild costs has collected nearly $4000 so far.
The club said it has also received many offers to donate goods and services for the rebuild, as well as equipment for riders to replace gear lost in the fire.
"We've got a fantastic community, we've just been really uplifted by the support," said Tengblad.
"Everyone's been so incredible, offering their support and wanting to help."
The pony club will now focus fundraising efforts on focused on safe water and pump systems, new fencing, the clubhouse, the tack shed and hay storage facilities.
"We have a long way to go, but we are positive we'll rebuild our small but mighty club."
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