Eden Pony Club is hoping a resurfaced sand arena and improved facilities at its Storey Avenue site will help bolster numbers and restore it to its heydays of the 1990s.
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“We probably had 60-70 members back then, but with the surface of the arena here unsuitable for the events we like to run, it’s been hard to keep up those numbers,” said event secretary Ashley Severs.
“We’ve got about 15 riding members this year and we’re hoping with the improved facilities that will be finished in the next couple of weeks, weather permitting, numbers will start to grow.”
The pony club was getting to the brink of closure with competition before they decided to take advantage of the Bega Valley Shire Council’s sports infrastructure funding made available through the special rate variation on 2009.
“The arena used to be tyre barriers and the surface was hard-packed dirt which isn’t much good for the horses,” Ashley said.
“We put in an application to the council and through their sport infrastructure fund and that was approved so we’ve been able to have a sand arena put in.”
Local earthmoving contractor John Michelin and Sons has been working at the site, carrying out levelling works before gravel is laid and compacted and then river sand spread over the top.
The 20 metre by 60 metre arena will meet the Pony Club Association and Equestrian Federation of Australia standards allowing for official competition.
“It’ll be a lot better riding surface than what we’ve had,” Ashley said.
“This will allow all dressage tests, lessons and games for kids from four to 10-years-old, and a lot of other events which means we’re hoping to get more entries to competitions and a lot more use.”
As well as the earthworks, the club’s small group of volunteers is carrying out a number of other improvements around the place and is hoping to use some of the grant to improve the jumping fences.
“We’re investigating the costs of PVC poles, which are a lot lighter than the metal ones we have now, and also jump wings,” Ashley said.
“It’s an exciting time for the club and the council has been fantastic in helping us get to this stage.”
The club will be holding its annual general meeting in the next couple of weeks to determine the program for the coming year.