About 40 jumps enthusiasts were at the meeting on Thursday to discuss issues surrounding jumps racing in New Zealand, but New Zealand Jumps secretary Andre Klein said discussion quickly moved to the South Island.
''There are a lot of issues across the country with handicapping and programmes but by far the most detailed conversation was around the South Island,'' he said.
Light numbers, both in training and in races in the South Island, have been the norm rather than the exception in recent seasons and Klein said all those attending - including trainers John Wheeler, Sheryl McGlade, David Hutton and Paul Nelson and riders Gary Walsh, Alan Browne, Ross Doherty, Shaun Phelan, Charlie Studd and Emily Farr - were behind the ideas that came out of the meeting.
Some are easier to achieve than others. One of those is a plan for jumping/schooling days at three venues - Riccarton, Wingatui and Riverton - in late February or early March.
Several jumping riders would be present to ensure trainers with potential jumpers could test their charge's jumping abilities.
McGlade, who is based in Cambridge and has run successful schools at the Cambridge property of trainer Ann Browne for several years, has volunteered her time and experience to put the event together and be on the ground to help run them on the day, as will Timaru trainer David Hutton.
Other ideas would need funding and approval at New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing level.
These include free training fees for six months for any South Island horse that has started in a jumps race, and additional riding fees for jumping riders to help with travel costs, as many jumps jockeys travel from the North Island for South Island meetings.
''Those ideas will go forward to NZTR to get NZTR endorsement, but the riding schools are already confirmed,'' Klein said.
Work would continue on handicapping and programming alongside the changes proposed from the meeting.
Klein was also conscious of not throwing excessive amounts of money at the shortage of jumping horses and racing opportunities.
''Pouring funds into stakes is not affordable or, necessarily, as history has proven, going to solve the problem.
''The reality is, as a group and industry, we have limited resources at our fingertips.
''One thing is absolutely sure, the situation is not going to solve itself and we, as a group, cannot afford to just sit on our hands, shake our heads, pay lip service to possible solutions and end up simply doing nothing about it.''
