Galston Equestrian Club Inc (GEC) is proud to invite you to the official opening day of the Hornsby Shire Rural Sports Facility.
This purpose built equestrian sports facility is the only one of its kind in Hornsby Shire. It will be home to the Galston Equestrian Club, and the Arcadia Pony Club, and will provide a recreational riding space for the public.
Come and explore the new grounds, and watch demonstrations by top riders in the beautiful new arenas. Our program on the day will feature demonstrations of a variety of equestrian sports, including dressage, horsemanship and show jumping, presented by top instructors as well as some of our talented committee members.
Our Report | Hills News Links | Rider Profiles
Our Report
Finally the day came and the weather held out after promising rain...the green lush arenas were top dressed with sand just waiting to be ridden on, and finally they were.
After a very low key council announcement approximately 300 equestrian enthusiasts came along to the official opening of the Hornsby council purpose built Rural Sports Facility.
Galston Equestrian Club (GEC) assisted council by helping distribute the free sausage sizzle and having a members stand with GEC club and sponsor info on hand for all those who wanted to look further. Having our cute mascot Charlie Brown there with his best friend Giselle, made sure many stopped to check out the stand. In fact we had 20 new members sign up that day.
Horseland our very generous sponsor put together some lovely sample bags - with a good bottle of white wine added in for good measure - to thank those kind enough to support the club by riding or showcasing in the demonstrations. These were held to show potential members and the public the diversity and fun of the various elements of the equestrian "bug".
GEC ran their demonstrations side by side with Arcadia Pony Club, the other club with the RSF as their home ground, and all went well.
Demonstrations included, Dressage from Novice to Grand Prix level, Showjumping, Natural Horsemanship and a Hot Shoeing display from farrier Dale Ridley.
Demonstrator profiles are below and make interesting reading!
We have received a number of emails saying how well run the opening day was. Many thanks to all who asssisted with this.
Don`t forget we are calling for committee members for 2009 so grab your special talents and drop us a line and let us know where you can help. Every little bit helps, so if you can only devote a little time lets us know, it is all appreciated and we can make the running of the club an easy task with many hands.
The club needs all of you to get involved. Email us at info@galstonequestrianclub.org.au or come and see us at our Christmas BBQ.
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Club to focus on talent Ponies and pets haven Club excited about move
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Rider Profiles
Below are some profiles of the local riders who participated at the Opening Day.
Tiffany Bignold
Tiffany is a Year 10 student at Cherrybrook Technology High School. Her pony, Glo-Brook Legend, is a well-performed Arabian Pony, who Tiffany has trained herself from the very beginning.
Tiffany and Legend have forged a brilliant partnership over the years, and the pair are currently competing in Advanced dressage with great success, and looking towards starting at Prix St Georges level in the New Year. Legend has also been a fantastic all-rounder, with Championships in showing, Arabian and part Welsh breed classes, showman, interschools competitions and all types of pony club, including jumping and sporting.
Tiffany is a Dressage NSW scholarship winner and has trained with some of the country's leading instructors, including Brett Parbery and Richard Weis.
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Annette Viscardi
Annette is the proud owner of Cosmic Wizard, a 12 year old Thoroughbred, with whom she competes in dressage at Preliminary level. Annette rode in New Zealand as a teenager, doing a bit of everything, including riding trackwork on racehorses.
After having her four children, and living in the perfect area - Galston - Annette decided to renew her passion for horses and riding and has finally found her perfect horse in "PJ". Annette is training towards her Intro Level One instructors qualification and works with horses at a number of professional establishments in the area. She trains with Lucas Hurps and also gets some help from Merril Howie.
Annette has enjoyed success competing in Associate competitions this year and is looking to also start competing in Official dressage at Preliminary and Novice level in the New Year.
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Copabella
Copabella is being represented today by Georgie Harvey riding her talented Thoroughbred gelding Glenorchy Hope, otherwise known as Woogsie.
Woogsie boards at Copabella in Arcadia, where Georgie has flatwork lessons with Lesley Hargreaves and jump training with daughter Julia.
Julia found Woogsie for Georgie in April this year, and since then the pair have shot up the levels. They began with a win in the 1.05-metre class at JK Williams, and went on to place 6th in their first Junior Grand Prix at Gunnedah in June.
In August, the pair travelled to Toowoomba and placed 6th in the Queensland State Junior Title and 5th in the Junior Grand Prix at Toowoomba World Cup Show.
They travelled back to Toowoomba in October to win the Equitation class at the National Interschools Championships, and went straight from there to Canberra to place 7th in the National Junior Showjumping Title.
Copabella trains and competes successful teams in all Olympic disciplines. They also maintain a very successful breeding program, which includes standing the popular Pinto jumping stallion Copabella Visage. The training facility on Fagans Road in Arcadia is managed by Lesley, while Julia and her partner Christopher Burton manage the training and breeding programmes at Redleaf Lodge in Wilberforce.
For more information, go to www.copabella.com or e-mail lesley@copabella.com or call Lesley on 9653 1993.
Watch this space as more profiles are added.
