ACT Equestrian Association

Sections of Canberra Nature Park closed for the safety of visitors from 9 June to 31 July 2026

Attached is a notice from Parks Wildlife Management advising that Sections of Canberra Nature Park are closed for the safety of visitors from 9 June to 31 July 2026 during kangaroo management operations.

The areas where there are designated horse riding trails are highlighted in yellow.

ATTN Trail Riders

ACT Masters Run/Walk Handicap event - Sunday May 31 - Coombs Molonglo Riverside Area - possibility of interaction with horses

The ACT Masters Athletics Association are conducting one of their monthly run/walk handicap events on Sunday 31 May 2026 using trails in the Coombs/Molonglo area that intersect with horse trails.

The event will commence at 9:00am and will be completed by 11:00am

A map of the course is attached. The race commences close to the RSPCA building off Kirkpatrick Street.

Runners will be advised to be aware of the possibility of horses and to take caution if they do come across them.

Cooleman Ridge Nature Preserve Maintenance Works

Subject to suitable weather conditions, ACT Parks & Conservation Service have advised they are planning to undertake maintenance works on the following trails within Coolemon Ridge Nature Reserve between 29/04 and 13/05:

Coolemon Ridge Nature Trail
Bicentennial Trail
Darrell Place Fire Trail
Dry Dam Fire Trail

During this period, park users may notice an increased presence of contractors and plant operating within the reserve. Signage will be placed to indicate work areas. Contractors have been briefed on the likelihood of encountering park users throughout the works, and all machinery and staff will yield and ensure safe passage is maintained at all times.

Upcoming Construction Work and a Closure on the National Trail in North-West Canberra

For those riders who use the National Trail, please see information on ACTEA Website regarding a closure on the National Trail at the following link

Upcoming Construction Work and a Closure on the National Trail in North-West Canberra – ACT Equestrian Association Underpass on William Hovel Drive at Hawker closed due to road duplication from including Drake Brockman intersection to John Gorton Drive Whitlam. An extended underpass under this main arterial road and approaches is part of the duplication.

ADFA Cross country event on Mt Ainslie Reserve trails 6am-10am on Thursday 02 April 2026

Pls see dollowing Message from ADFA

Good Afternoon to whom it may concern,

between 6am-10am on Thursday 02 April 2026
ADFA is holding its annual Cross country on the Addison sports ovals over the road from ADFA and using the Mt Ainslie reserve trails as a running track.

I am contacting you now to ensure we dont have a clash between potential runners and horse riders on the day.

Following notice has been received from ACT Parks and Conservation Service (PCS)

Weather permitting, PCS will be conducting the following prescribed burn on Wednesday 25 March from 12:00

FB866 McQuoids Hill
Location McQuoids Hill
Lat / long -35.3831, 149.0343
Reason for burn - Fuel hazard reduction
Duration 1 day
Size 22 ha
Perimeter 2.4km
Fuels Woodland
Smoke sensitive
Adjacent suburbs of Kambah and Gleneagles. Galilee School, Lyons Youth Haven, horse agistment paddocks

A map of the proposed burn area is available at https://www.parks.act.gov.au/before-you-go/upcoming-prescribed-burns

EVENT IN MOLONGLO FOREST THIS SUNDAY FROM 0830 - 1030

The ACT Masters Athletics Association will be conducting A run/walk event on Sunday 22 February 2026 using trails in the Molonglo Forest area that intersect with horse trails.

The event will commence at 8:30am and will be completed by 10:30am

The Map below outlines the course. The race commences just over Clos Crossing and uses the main trail into the forest, before looping around as indicated on the map. Check in tables will be set up on the southern bank area of Molonglo River with runners approaching from Harold White Avenue etc.

Runners will be advised to be aware of the possibility of horses and to take caution if they do come across them.

Volunteers Needed for Bicentennial National Trail

The National Trail Section Coordinator, Jenny Costin, sought the assistance of the ACT Equestrian Association in finding local horse owners who regularly ride out from private or public agistment along the BNT trail who would like to assist in keeping an eye out for obstructions on their local route.

Volunteers came forward for most of the sections. However the following sections are still in need of some “eyes on”:

Hall North
Hall to Green space of Hyslop Crescent Casey
Yarralumla Paddocks South to North Weston Ponds

Further information is located in the “Eyes on Trail” document (link: https://www.actea.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Bicentennial-Trail-Eyes-on-BNT-Dec-25-.docx

Please contact Jenny Costin on 0412274810 or at [email protected] if you can help in keeping an eye on these sections or the Trail generally in anyway. Volunteers are always welcome!

The National Trail is clearly marked on the ACT Governments Equestrian Trails map. There are easy links to this map on the ACTEA website at https://actgov.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=4f9a0dc6b62c4d62b784d4f4d16f299b or the Parks and Conservation website at https://www.parks.act.gov.au/things-to-do/horse-riding.

Thank you!!

During Canberra's firestorm, Jane protected horses. She wishes she hadn't Many lessons came from the 2003 Canberra firestorm, including how to better care for horses during a bushfire emergency. This summer, horse owners are being urged to have emergency safety plans in place for their animals.

🔥🔥Important information to have on hand during Bushfire Season 🔥🔥

Here are some links that might be useful:

ACTMapi - to see if you are in a bushfire prone area - https://www.actmapi.act.gov.au/

Report – Hightailing into the Fires: Bushfire Planning on ACT Horse Agistment Centres -https://esa.act.gov.au/sites/default/files/wp-content/uploads/bushfire-planning-on-act-horse-agistment-centres.pdf

Canberra Equine Hospital ‘Bushfire Preparedness’ - https://canberraequinehospital.com.au/bushfire-prepardness/

Bushfires – ESA website - http://esa.act.gov.au/be-emergency-ready/bushfires

Download the ‘Hazards Near Me App’ - https://www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/hazards-near-me-app

Listen to FM 666 radio for bushfire updates - https://www.abc.net.au/listen/live/canberra

The dates that EPIC is not available for the relocation of horses:

Summernats – Thursday 2 January 2025 to Sunday 5 January 2025
Royal Canberra Show – Friday 21 February 2025 to Sunday 23 February 2025

ABC Canberra Live Audio - ABC listen Listen live, whenever you want, wherever you are with ABC Canberra.