In total the Bathurst community has received $56,226 for local sporting facilities, of which the Oberon Pony Club has been given $4229.

Bathurst MP Gerard Martin said the local sporting clubs and organisations are “the heart of communities across NSW” and it was great to see this money being invested in sporting facilities in the region.

The Oberon Pony Club, will spent their grant on a new horse round yard at the Oberon Equestrian Centre.

“The new yard would be a great contribution for younger riders, who get the opportunity to be instructed without leads,” Kay Whalan of the Oberon Pony Club said.

“It will also be so much safer for riders and attract new members, with three horse groups already using the Equestrian Centre.

“The process for the yard involved getting quotes for panels, gates, rubber, cement and the erection of the yard.

“We are not sure when construction will take place, maybe sometime during the Christmas holidays or, if confirmed earlier, during August or September.”

While the club has a strong membership base, Ms Whalan hopes that the new funding will attract more people to the club and also promote further funding projects of new horse yards and a cross country upgrade.

“The cross country upgrade would take long days of work, burning and gathering pine for cross country jumps,” she said.

It is hoped sporting competitions will be held at the Equestrian Centre, the club having already staged the Zone Three Mountain Games in January which attracted teams from Carcoar, Lithgow, Oberon and Bathurst.

“It was a really good turnout, with 70 riders and 10 different relay events such as horse races,” Whalan said.

The proposed location of the horse yard is 169 Abercrombie Road, Oberon.