BUILDING stables to host state events and providing lights for summer competitions are top priorities on Megan Hayne’s sporting wish list.
The Rosewood Hack and Pony Club (RHPC) president and chief instructor is eager to keep providing higher learning opportunities for her riders.
She hoped stables catering for at least 150 horses could be established at the Rosewood Showgrounds, which is a requirement for Queensland competitions.
“At the moment, state events can only be held at Toowoomba, Maryborough, Bundaberg and further up in North Queensland,” she said.
Hayne was also seeking funding to upgrade the clubhouse and enhance lighting.
In her fifth year as club president, Hayne said her sport had a major appeal within walking distance of the Rosewood Central Business District.
“We all communicate really well and help each other out,” she said.
“It’s that real community spirit and it feels like we are all family.”
Hayne has been a chief instructor for a decade.
“I love that role,” she said.
“I love that smile when they [riders] come in and those lightbulb moments when something actually works.”
She appreciated having another knowledgeable instructor, Tracy Rathjen, to share the training workload.
Megan (stockman’s challenge) and Rathjen (dressage and combined training) have won rugs at previous state championships.
Hayne said the RHPC was the biggest club of its kind in the West Moreton Zone 3 with 55 members. The club lost some riders during the Covid period.
“We’re trying to rebuild. We’ve just got a whole heap of senior members this year,” she said.
“It [the Covid challenge] was tough. We did pretty well though.”
The RHPC caters for riders of all ages, who participate in regular musters, learn new disciplines and join interclub events with other regional clubs from Ipswich, Laidley, Hatton Vale, Gatton and Brisbane Valley.
Riders can also compete at three different state championships each year – in showjumping and equitation; dressage, combined training and horse trials; and campdrafting, gymkhana and stockmans challenge.
The next Queensland dressage, combined training and horse trials championships are in Toowoomba in the June - July holidays before the final state campdrafting and related events later this year.
Club riders Addison Hayne – Megan’s 12-year-old niece – and 20-year-old Kirra Ayala shared in state title dressage successes last year.
The RHPC was established in 1970 and based at the Rosewood Showgrounds. The first gymkhana was held that year.
The original club patron was Gordon McGeary. His great granddaughter Elise is a current member.
Hayne attended Amberley Primary and Rosewood State High School while living on her family’s 50 acre property at Ebenezer.
However, Hayne and other riders at the time “didn’t really know” about state championships.
They learnt their skills enjoying success at pony club and interclub events.
The current generation is introduced earlier to higher level competition.
“We can take it to that next level now,” Hayne said. “Watching the kids come through and get that experience.”
While she had limited opportunities in state riding events, the public servant enjoyed some wonderful state, national and international moments in athletics and netball.
That included winning a bronze medal in triple jump and coming fourth in high jump at the Australian championships.
She also represented Australia in indoor netball, sharing in a successful six-game series against New Zealand in the 1990s.
Her past sporting knowledge has been invaluable with current riders and knowing how to look after their horses.
Hayne also studied Equine Science at the University of Queensland.
“I love being a helper and an educator.”