And the best thing for the future of the harness racing industry is they could have been newcomers to the industry when they first joined up with the organisation.
Of the 25 children who come ''religiously every Wednesday night'' to club night, Kidz Kartz Otago organiser Steph Green, of Waikouaiti, estimates at least 80% are from the greater south Dunedin area and the majority do not come from harness racing families.
''Most of the kids are through word of mouth from kids at school or seeing them on race day,'' Green said.
''The biggest misconception from families that aren't involved in harness racing is that it's a pony club sort of thing and you have to have your own pony.
''When they do realise they can just come along and join in, it changes their mind a little bit.''
Ages range from six to 14, and 15 of the club members able to drive on race night.
The younger members get to drive horses on the lead before stepping up.
''We go through with them right from scratch, teaching them about pony care.
''We specialise with the driving side of it, but they long rein them before they drive them and go right through to driving.''
It is not only the physical care of the ponies that children learn about at Kidz Kartz.
''We see kids' confidence really expand in these situations because they're in control.
''We always say to the kids treat the pony how you'd like to be treated. If you treat them kindly, they'll be kind back to you and we hope that is then reflected in to their day-to-day lives. It teaches them about morals and gives them a place, really.''
Many of the ponies the Otago branch receives are handed over for free, and there is some work to do with them before they are ready to do battle on race nights at Forbury Park.
Some of the ponies have been ''up on the hills for 10 years of their lives'', Green said.
''The thing we're battling with is that a lot of our ponies are young ponies and we tell the kids they're educating them while they're out there, basically.''
The older children compete in heats on race nights at Forbury Park between October and now.
''From now on, it's weather-dependent,'' Green said.
Young drivers to have come through the Kidz Kartz system in recent years include Canterbury junior driver Robbie Close and Auckland junior driver Jack McKinnon, as well as Cameron Jones, who is now driving in Australia.
''It hasn't been around that long to see a huge amount of them, but I think eventually, there'll be a good number of kids who have actually come through Kidz Kartz and on to the race track.''
Green said the organisation was always looking for people to help out if they felt they had a particular skill to contribute.
