Bushfire, Flooding Rain, and a Pandemic Cannot Stop Mallacoota Pony Club

Mallacoota Pony Club pushes on despite bushfires, COVID-19, flooding rains and freezing temperatures.

It is clear nothing can stop this little band of enthusiastic horse lovers.

Members met recently to receive the Certificate workbooks kindly donated by Pony Club Australia and to have their first look at the newly built, round jumping arena after fires ravaged their grounds earlier this year. After their July rally was cancelled due to severe weather, the club used this opportunity to come together one last time before stage 3 COVID-19 restrictions came into place.

“The donated certificate books will help the riders keep learning about the safety and welfare of their horses and about riding and horse handling skills, even while they are in lockdown,” said Mallacoota Pony Club District Commissioner Sara Renwick-Lau. “The club plans to provide online rallies, as well as some access to riding instruction within COVID-19 restrictions.

"Horse-riding is an outdoor activity which can be done at a safe physical distance from others. Our horses depend on us for their care and welfare even during a pandemic. Pony Club, locally and at a State and National level, aims to support horse riders and owners to stay safe and healthy and continue to gain important horsemanship skills,” she added.

The Club was grateful to Gary Harris of Mallacoota Home Improvements, who has just completed the jumping arena and a lovely new spectator bench, keeping the design in line with the burnt down arena which had been built with the hard work of previous Pony Club families over many decades.

Club President Stephanie Mew added, “While there is still much to be done, we are continuing to make slow and steady progress to restoring the fire damaged Pony Club grounds and club rooms for the use of current and future generations of riders and visitors. We really hope to bring the grounds back to being a useable facility that others in the community might also be able to share.”

After everything that Mallacoota Pony Club has been through, and with the support it has received and the enthusiasm of its members, Sara Renwick-Lau says there is not much that can keep them from moving forward. “We look forward to many more years of Mallacoota Pony Club.”

More information:
We can provide Sara Renwick-Lau’s contact details or:

Dr Catherine Ainsworth
CEO, Pony Club Australia
M: 0438 174 222
E: ceo@ponyclubaustralia.com.au

Bronwyn Wheatley
Marketing and Development Officer, Pony Club Australia
M: 0423 823 190
E: marketing@ponyclubaustralia.com.au
www.ponyclubaustralia.com.au