EVER enthusiastic Rosewood Hack and Pony Club president Megan Hayne was happy to spend time over the summer trail riding on her new horse Silver Archer.
As Megan quickly declared: “It was way too hot” for regular club competition.
However, the progressive club based at the Rosewood Showgrounds is beginning to ramp up activities and events for 2024.
The club is hosting a muster and come and try day at the Showgrounds as an ideal opportunity for new competitors to experience the sport.
“This year we’ve actually got eight instructors, which is fantastic,” Megan said.
“We try and have about six or seven different activities on the day and we rotate through so that they get to see all the different instructors and all of us get to see all the new riders so that we have a bit of an idea what’s happening.”
Sunday’s muster follows the latest AGM where Megan was re-elected.
She is joined on the committee by vice presidents Lenore Meuleners and Lynette Kellam, secretary Brent Armstrong and treasurer Tracy Rathjen.
Tracy is a chief instructor along with Megan.
Megan (stockman’s challenge) and Rathjen (dressage and combined training) have won rugs at previous state championships.
Brent is preparing for his third year at the club having grown up in Rosewood.
The AGM was held on the same day as the club’s inaugural car boot sale at the Showgrounds.
Megan was thrilled with the response.
“It was the first time we’ve done that and we had people that weren’t pony club members come along and sell some gear and buy some gear,” Megan said.
“It was pretty successful.
“It was just so everyone could upgrade their gear. We were happy to have a lot of gear available.”
Megan said the car boot sale was also a good early year bonding session for the club competitors and new participants.
“Everyone introduced themselves and had a chat so that was really good,” she said.
“It was a bit of a test and will get everyone ready for the season.”
The club plans to hold musters twice a month.
Rosewood Hack and Pony Club riders have a range of higher level competitions ahead, including the state show jumping and jumping equitation championships at Maryborough in April.
Other Queensland events include dressage, combined training and horse trials at Beaudesert and Mt Tamborine in July and the gymkhana, campdraft, sporting and stockman’s challenge at Taroom in September.
A Tetrathlon at Carbalah in October and masters competition at Maryborough in November complete the year’s major events.
“Some of our kids are already working towards qualifiers to go,” she said.
“This year we are going to focus on doing more clinics for the kids. That was feedback from last year.”
The Rosewood Hack and Pony Club was established in 1970.
The club caters for riders of all ages, who participate in the regular musters, learn new disciplines and join interclub events with other regional clubs from Ipswich, Laidley, Hatton Vale, Gatton and Brisbane Valley.
Megan, who studied Equine Science at the University of Queensland, brings a strong athletic and netball background to her leadership and teaching roles at the club.
“I love doing that,” she said, keen to get involved in the 2024 opportunities.
