South East Equestrian Club Malabar threatened by off-leash dogs at NSW Rifle Association

Three years after winning a hard-fought battle to return to the beautiful Malabar Headland in Sydney’s southeast, an equestrian club faces a very different hurdle involving off-leash dogs, broken bones and enforcement holes.

Off leash dogs have sparked serious safety fears at a Sydney equestrian club, which claims some have run at horses and caused riders to fall off and break bones.

Donna Wright from the South East Equestrian Club in Malabar is equally concerned about repeated threats to the lives of volunteers who try to remind the public of the requirement to walk their dogs on a leash.

“Dogs run up to the mesh fence and frighten the horses and we’ve had teenagers fall off and hurt themselves — some people never want to come back,” she said.

“Just the other week, someone fell off and broke their arm.”

Randwick Council is aware of and condemns the threats and abuse hurled at volunteers, but strenuously believes the public should be able to use the area.

The South East Equestrian Club at the Anzac Rifle Range sits within the politically-charged arena of the Malabar Headland and off-leash dog walking is banned at the site.

The South East Equestrian Club is concerned about their riders. Generic pictures.

The NSW Rifle Association signed a 50 year lease with the Federal government in May 2017, which allowed the public access to certain portions of the headland on non-shooting days — on the terms that dogs remain on their leash.

Two years later, the South East Equestrian Club won a hard-fought battle to return to the headland after being kicked out in 2011 when the then-Labor government planned to transform the partially contaminated area into a national park and public open space.

But since Covid, the headland near the club has become an extremely popular walking spot. Ms Wright said many refuse to keep their dogs on a leash, causing them to run up to the fence and scare the horses as well as the rider.

“There used to be a caretaker there (employed by the NSW Rifle Association) to help explain the situation to people but they had their lives threatened too,” Ms Wright said.

South East Equestrian Club secretary Donna Wright (left) said there was a need for security. Picture: AAP/Monique Harmer

“But there needs to be some kind of security there as this is just dangerous for our volunteers.”

Ms Wright said the club recently installed CCTV cameras so they could start going to police if need be.

The risk was exacerbated by the fact one of the club’s riding groups, Riding for the Disabled (NSW), involves riders with mental health issues such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Many of those riders were particularly vulnerable to the dogs abruptly approaching the horses.

Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker said his council does not manage the Anzac Rifle Range despite having a longstanding position that there should be public access.

“The Association has a direct lease with the Federal Department of Finance. As such, we are unable to take enforcement action on privately leased land,” he said.

The equestrian Club in Malabar has had its fair share of challenges. Picture: AAP/Monique Harmer

“Nevertheless, council has been made aware of instances where Rifle Association staff have been assaulted and threatened. This is unacceptable. Everyone has the right to feel safe in their workplace”.

Mr Parker strongly encouraged responsible pet ownership and wanted public access to this section of the headland to continue.

“If dogs are on the Anzac Rifle Range they need to be on-leash. Dogs are not permitted in the National Park,” he said.

“If you want to take your dog off leash, there are 14 off-leash dog areas across the Randwick Council area where dogs can run free, including a nearby section of Pioneers Park, Malabar”.

The NSW Rifle Association was contacted for comment.