Donvale and Templestowe Pony Club robbed of essential equipment

Essential equipment worth almost $30,000 has been stolen from an eastern suburbs pony club, leaving its young members devastated and unable to participate in their favourite sport.

The Donvale and Templestowe Pony club was broken into on January 8, with thieves stealing the club’s tractor, trailer, air compressor and other equipment.

Callous thieves have robbed a local pony club, leaving young riders without essential equipment.

The Donvale and Templestowe Pony club was broken into on January 8, with thieves stealing the club’s tractor, trailer, air compressor and other equipment.

Club volunteer Chris Kelly said the loss had devastated the 12 girls who depended on the club for their favourite sport.

“Some people might look at horse riding as an elitist sport, but this is just young families trying to support their kids doing what they enjoy,” he said.

“The club depends entirely on volunteers and fundraising to keep in the black this each, and the theft of these items is just devastating for all our riders.”

The Donvale and Templestowe Pony club’s tractor that was stolen on January 8. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Kelly said the thieves broke into the club a few days before to set up the robbery.

“They replaced one of our padlocks with one of theirs and then came back on the Monday when it was pouring rain to complete the robbery,” said Mr Kelly.

“They took all our jumps out of the trailer, loaded up the tractor and a few other items and stole it all.”

Members of the pony club out for a ride. Photo: Supplied,

The pony club has created a GoFundMe to raise money for new equipment.

“The people who do this think you have insurance that covers this but our tractor was already 15 years old and insurance just doesn’t cover everything,” he said.

“This is about a $28,000 loss, and we are going to have to do so much fundraising to recover from this.”