Taking Care of Eventing Facilities in Queensland

Queensland is fortunate enough to have nine (Yeppoon, Maryborough, Noosa, Burpengary, Fig Tree Pocket, Tamborine, Toowoomba, Kooralbyn, and Warwick) One Day Event grounds. Each competition ground is unique in its own way. 

 One thing they all have in common, is the dedicated group of volunteers that work extremely hard to put events on these grounds together.

 Some of the grounds are part of showgrounds (Maryborough and Toowoomba) which brings its own challenges.  These clubs will have to work with other community organisation when planning dates for events, and will need to book the grounds months in advance.  Nominating for their events will often include other charges that are imposed upon them by the Show Societies.

 Some of our grounds are on private property, like Noosa, Tamborine, and Kooralbyn.  We need to be extra mindful when attending events on these grounds. We are there competing at the pleasure of some generous people, who without their generosity, we would be three grounds down in Queensland.

 Most of the other grounds are shared grounds with other equestrian clubs. These clubs too must work with these other clubs when planning events.  Not an easy task, just ask any of the Organising Committees from Yeppoon, Burpengary, and Fig Tree Pocket.

 The only purpose built facility we have in Queensland is at Warwick, and that bring its own challenges. Warwick is such a large piece of ground, and is maintained by the volunteers of the Warwick Horse Trials.

 Here are some things to remember to make it easier for our grounds to remain open for us all to enjoy.

1. If the gates are locked and you have arrived early for an event, ring the Organising Committee and work through a solution with them.

2. If you are asked to bag up the manure, don’t leave it under your float. If you haven’t got access to a bag, leave it in your float and take it home.  Some grounds have dedicated manure piles, for your convenience.  The schedules or programs will outline what you need to do.

3. Don’t leave rubbish on the ground, pick it up and put it in a bin or take it home and put it in your bin at home.

4. Don’t take your car onto a competition area.  The surfaces have been prepared so that they are in the best possible condition for your horses to compete on.  Driving a vehicle over the surface will alter it, meaning all that hard work will have gone to waste. If you can’t walk around the course, talk to the organising committee.  You would be surprised what arrangements can be made.

5. If something gets broken, it’s no biggy, nothing lasts forever.  Please tell the organising committee so it can get fixed as soon as possible for the convenience of everyone.

 Above all take pride in our grounds and support our Organising Committee, because without both we will not have the wonderful facilities that we presently have.