When the idea of developing an equestrian centre in Blayney was first mooted several years ago, for some the very thought of it had them rearing in shock at the cost and size of what was proposed.
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The supporters though charged on and during the official opening on Wednesday the deputy premier of NSW John Barilaro described the Central West Equestrian and Livestock Centre as a "world class facility".
"The state government has been investing millions of dollars in infrastructure projects across rural NSW and this facility is one of the best I've seen," he said.
Those sentiments were echoed by all of the stakeholders who attended the opening including Jenny Bryant from Central West Dressage.
"Rain, hail or snow this will attract both top level instructors and competitors to Blayney throughout the year,' she said.
"Last weekend it was snowing but we could still hold our session out here on Saturday and that's fantastic."
Carcoar Pony Club's Peter Day said the club was growing in numbers thanks to the equestrian centre.
"We're very proud of this facility and what we have here, we're very lucky," he said.
""Coming out of three years of drought and even now with Covid we have a lot of interest and are really looking forward to our gymkhana in October."
Kim Stapleton from Central West Equitation said that her group wouldn't exist if it hadn't been for the development of the equestrian centre.
"Equitation is the fastest growing horse sport in Australia at the moment and we've had three events so far here at the centre and have had to turn back nearly 50 riders," she said.
The inclusion of livestock in the name of the centre has made all the difference for groups such as Blayney Horse Sports whose focus is on working horses and the skills involved.
Club president Tina Andersen Linnegar said that the facility would help the club develop.
"We're really happy that we can run our cows through here which is what we do, train horses to work with cattle, learn how to stop and turn quickly," she said.
Mark Logan
Started working in newspapers in the 1990's in the darkroom of the Pastoral Times in Deniliquin before moving to Millthorpe in 2003. Soon after arriving I started as a photographer at the CWD. Now a journalist at the Blayney Chronicle.
Started working in newspapers in the 1990's in the darkroom of the Pastoral Times in Deniliquin before moving to Millthorpe in 2003. Soon after arriving I started as a photographer at the CWD. Now a journalist at the Blayney Chronicle.
