FAQ's &Important Info
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to wear a helmet while riding at the Club? Yes.
As a condition of the terms of the Club’s insurance and the Club’s grounds lease from Council all riders must wear a riding helmet. (More information about the types of helmets approved are available below under Headgear Details)
Does my helmet have to have one of those little yellow tags on it? For some events, yes.
Helmet tagging is mandatory for all EA Affiliated Eventing, Jumping and Dressage events.
Are the Rural Sports Facility grounds open to the public on Sunday’s? No
On Sundays the grounds have been hired from Hornsby Shire Council by the Clubs (Arcadia Pony Club or Galston Equestrian Club) for their exclusive use. Unless you are a member of the particular Club that has the ground on that Sunday you cannot use the grounds. Members of the Club are always welcome on their Club days.
Are the Rural Sports Facility grounds open to the public and casual riders during the week? Yes
The grounds are open to the public and free to use from Monday to Saturday every week.
What time do the Rural Sports Facility grounds open?
The grounds are open from 8am to 6pm.
Who is in charge of the Rural Sports Facility?
Hornsby Shire Council are in charge of the RSF grounds.
Why are the gates still locked when the Rural Sports Facility should be open?
Sometimes unforeseen events happen, and things don’t always run smoothly, and the gates have not been unlocked from the previous night. If there is not a CLOSED sign up on the locked vehicle gate on Mansfield Road, you can usually find float parking on Bayfield Road across the road from the RSF. The pedestrian access gate to the RSF on Bayfield Road is never locked.
If, however, the closed sign is up at the locked gate on Mansfield Road, this means that the RSF is NOT OPEN to the public.
The contact number at Hornsby Council for the RSF is (02) 9847 6058.
Do you have to be a member to participate in a Galston Equestrian Club event? Usually no.
GEC will occasionally run members only events, but most of the Club events are open to non members at a higher cost than members. This extra cost covers a day membership charge for non members.
Are dogs allowed at Club events? No.
As a condition of the grounds lease agreement with Council dogs, even on leads, are prohibited at horse events. Dogs are allowed at the RSF grounds on Monday to Saturday but must be leashed.
Why is the entry cut off date so long before the Event?
Event organisers need time to prepare the schedule for the running of an event in order for the event to run smoothly. As well, for some events, GEC needs to seek approval from governing bodies/third parties for the officials we are using and send draws to them for review at least one week prior.
Are there volunteering opportunities with Galston Equestrian Club? Yes.
At every competition event we are always looking for volunteers to help. There are roles as varied as helping judges record the scores, helping in the canteen or marshalling at an arena. It’s usually a fun atmosphere and you can learn a lot by helping out. The competition event organiser will be the person to contact if you’re keen to help out.
If I volunteer do I have to do it all day? No.
Most volunteers get a time slot of 1 to 2 hours to fit in with their day.
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Do I have to own my own horse, or does Galston Equestrian Club provide horses to have lessons on?
GEC does not provide horses. Participants need to bring along a horse that they either own or lease.
