MayWood Equestrian in Goomboorian calls for community support or faces closure

A popular Gympie region riding school is calling for community support, as residual flood damage forces them to consider closing their stables. Here’s how you can help:

A popular Goomboorian equestrian centre is staring down the barrel of closure after flood damage destroyed their arena.

MayWood Equestrian has around 60 students a week, many of whom are National Disability Insurance Scheme participants.

Since the flooding earlier this year, the centre has been forced to cancel lessons almost daily.

The extent of the flooding at MayWood Equestrian. Picture supplied.

Owner and teacher Katt Blakemore said the damage has resulted in a significant safety hazard for students and horses.

“It’s just destroyed the surface and it’s brought out all these roots and made lots of divots,” she said.

“It’s at the point now where we can’t use it at all.”

Ms Blakemore said she is disappointed to have to regularly cancel classes due to any wet weather, no matter how small the threat.

“These poor kids keep missing out,” she said.

“It’s pretty frustrating for the riders, there’s some that we’ve only seen once a month because every time their lessons come around it’s rained.”

“They start to lose a bit of their passion.”

Kassie Pontifex, a student at MayWood, recently represented the club at Nationals. Picture supplied.

A GoFundMe campaign has been started to raise funds to renovate the arena and create a safe riding space for students and their trusty steeds.

Ms Blakemore said the decision to make a campaign was not one she took lightly.

“I’m not one to ask for help,” she said.

“I really got pushed into doing this GoFundMe page … my clients just kept pushing for me to do this because they want to help and they want to see us stay alive.”

So far, the campaign has raised nearly $3000, including one donation of $2045 by one passionate rider, Charlene Coleman.

"MayWood really is a family," according to owner Katt Blackmore. Picture supplied.

Ms Blakemore said she was “over the moon thankful” for the support.

“I’m not used to getting that kind of gift or donation or anything,” she said.

“That really knocked me off my feet a little – it was just incredible!”

The funds will help keep everybody riding, rain or shine, according to Ms Blakemore.

“If we get a bit of rain or a bit of a drizzle we can still use it,” she said.

“The ground will be nice and soft on our riders if they happen to take a tumble.”

You can support the cause here.

Originally published as MayWood Equestrian in Goomboorian calls for community support or faces closure