EQUESTRIAN SPORT AND RECREATION IN THE ACT –
AN OVERVIEW
The strategic plan relates primarily to equestrian facilities in the ACT, the
term 'facilities' being interpreted broadly to include horse holding facilities,
competition and show facilities and trails. It is unrealistic, however, to consider these in
isolation from the numerous other factors which form a part of equestrian sport. These
factors include participants, organisations, activities, services and funding. The
interactions between all of these is indicated in Figure 2.1.
The situation with respect to equestrian sport and recreation in the ACT is
discussed in detail in Chapter 2 and Appendices A to E of the Phase 1 discussion paper.
Some key points from this discussion paper are as follows:
 | Equestrian participants in the ACT fall into two broad categories, those
who belong to clubs or associations and depend largely on these organisations to pursue their activities, and those who are involved independently, sometimes through the services of commercial organisations such as riding schools.
|
| Participants vary widely in terms of their experience, ability and
commitment |
| to equestrian sport. |
| The current structure of the ACTEA represents predominantly those riders |
| who belong to equestrian clubs and associations. |
| The range of clubs within the ACTEA is diverse. It includes:
 | international disciplines (dressage, showjumping, eventing, endurance, vaulting) |
| other specialist competitions (reining, polocrosse, hacking) |
| pony clubs |
| adult riding clubs |
| breed societies |
| trail riding |
| riding for people with disabilities (Pegasus). |
|
| Some equestrian activities (e.g. campdrafting, tentpegging, rodeo) are not established within the ACT, but are based in surrounding towns (e.g. Bungendore). |
| There are informal groups associated with many of the government horse paddocks, but these are not affiliated with the ACTEA. |
| Many equestrians are members of more than one club or association. Some of the clubs and associations which operate in Canberra draw their membership from throughout a wider area of New South Wales. These factors, coupled with the fact that many local equestrians do not belong to clubs, makes it difficult to estimate the total number of equestrians in Canberra. |
| Based on figures supplied by landowners and managers for horse agistment and stabling, there appear to be between 1800 and 2000 horses kept within or close to the ACT which are used for sport and recreation, or are kept for
their |
| sentimental value. This figure does not include racing, breeding or other
work horses. |
| Equestrian competitions in the ACT are organised predominantly through the clubs that are affiliated with the ACTEA, although some competitions are conducted by commercial operators. The equestrian events at the Canberra Show are organised through the Royal National Capital Agricultural Society. |
| Recreational trail riding is also organised both through clubs and by commercial operators, although much of this activity is undertaken by individuals, many of whom are not club members. |
| The main facilities for equestrian competition in the ACT are as follows:
| Equestrian Park, Yarralumla, which is managed under licence by the ACTEA. |
| Hall Showground precinct, which includes polocrosse grounds located on an adjacent rural lease. |
| Canberra Riding Club grounds, which are managed by the club itself and are available for hire to other clubs. |
| Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC), which is an ACT Government facility but is managed on a commercial basis for a wide range of uses including equestrian competitions and shows. Some non-equestrian activities (e.g. motor sport events) conflict seriously with the use of EPIC for equestrian sport. |
| All of the pony clubs have their own facilities which are primarily for their own use, but some are used to a limited extent by other clubs under special arrangements. |
| Some of the commercial establishments, as well as Pegasus, have competition facilities which are available for hire by clubs when they are not required for their own purposes. These include several indoor arenas. |
|
| Approximately 550 horses are kept in ACT Government horse paddocks with nearly three times this number kept in private stables or agistment. Some of the government horse paddocks are on land which is used temporarily for this purpose, pending future higher order use, such as residential or
institutional development or roads. |
| There is an extensive but incomplete network of equestrian trails within
the ACT. Most of these trails are shared with other users such as walkers, joggers and, to a more limited extent, cyclists. Several former trails are no longer available for use because of urban development, upgrading of roads or management policies. |
| The services available to equestrian sport and recreation in the ACT
include teaching and coaching through riding schools and specialist instructors, breeding and training of horses, and support services such as farriers, veterinary surgeons, saddlery shops, feed suppliers etc. |
| The funding of equestrian facilities comes partly from equestrians
themselves and partly from the ACT Government. The ACT Government provides capital and operational funding for major competition facilities (e.g. at EPIC) as
well as for trails and government horse paddocks. Government funding for capital works is provided also through grants to the ACTEA and its clubs. |
| Commercial facilities (competition and horse keeping) all operate on a commercially funded basis, and both capital and operating costs must ultimately be recovered from their clients in order for them to remain financially viable. |
| Equestrian activities in the ACT contributed an estimated $13.85 million towards the ACT economy in the most recent year. This figure represents total outlays by ACT residents and visitors to the ACT in relation to horse maintenance, equestrian events and equestrian-related business activity. |
| In terms of employment, it is estimated that as many as 158 full-time equivalent positions could have resulted from equestrian-related expenditures in the most recent year. |
| The additional value of voluntary labour associated with equestrian
activities has been estimated to be $14.9 million in the most recent year. The dominant element of this is associated with horse maintenance by private owners. The existing situation and future issues in relation to horse holding
facilities, competition and showing facilities and trails are discussed further at the
start of Chapters 3, 4 and 5 respectively. |
