Improved Horse Facilities for Horse Capital

WHITE Park is one step closer to an all-weather equine facility, with the announcement of $1.469 million from the state government.

Lee Watts president of the Horse Festival said it was a much needed addition to the town which is the horse capital.

Lee Watts president of the Horse Festival Committee welcomed the new funding.

“This will pay for the roof over the arena and that has been a big issue in being able to attract more horse events to town,” said Mrs Watts.

“We have been working with 20 different equine user groups from pony club, to tent-peggers and the rodeo and they all have different needs, which have been accommodated in our plans for the new developments,” she said.

“For example they need different surfaces and while this is only stage one, by the time we are fully funded for all stages all equine groups will have their ideal facility at White Park,” she said.

“We regularly have equine events at White Park, for example this weekend it is hosting the cutting horse, which I’d encourage people to go and enjoy.

“With better facilities we hope to attract more equine events for the area, which is great for the local economy and our role as the horse capital,” she said.

“But this is just the start, we want to keep the project going and we don’t want to wait another ten years for the next stage,” Lee Watts said.

This stage will include:

• a 90m x 60m roof over an 80m x 40m riding arena;
• mobile terrace seating around the arena;
• new surface with subsurface drainage, and
• rain water tanks and landscape irrigation.