Ballarat Social Trail Horse Riding Club -Maldon Steam Train and Ride

                                Enquiries & Nominations to Alan Salter at alg_salter@bigpond.com or 0427 357 941   

                                                           (PLEASE DO NOT NOMINATE VIA FACEBOOK)

  IMPORTANT NOTICE: If a DAY OF TOTAL FIRE BAN is declared the ride will be cancelled. If extreme weather conditions are forecast for the day of a planned ride or event, it is your responsibility to phone the ride Coordinator to confirm if the ride is going ahead. 
 

Where:

Muckleford Railway Station. Located on the Muckleford-Walmer Road, Castlemaine (or Muckleford more correctly). Google the location for best directions. The horses will be left here at CFA shed, under supervision – any volunteers? 

When:

Sunday 18th March 2018. Arrive by 9AM to allow plenty of time to prepare and saddle your horse. Must be ready to drive floats to Maldon by 9.45AM. David Wallace will lead the convoy to the designated parking area at Maldon. It is then a very short walk to the train station. The steam train departs Maldon at 10.30AM.

Parking:

Ample parking available in the paddock, as you enter the station grounds. There are public toilets at the station for your use if needed. No water for horses is available at station, so please bring water for washing and drinking.

Ride Description:

This ride is suitable for all levels of rider skills/experience. Horses will be left secured to the fence of the Muckleford CFA shed, under the supervision of 2 members, (anyone volunteering)? This is within a securely fenced small paddock but is across the road from the train station. We will arrive back here on the train about 10.50am, but we must be saddled and under way by 11.20 so we do not encounter trains on our trip back to Maldon.

The rail trail travels beside the railway line for about 2kms, with a dry creek bed to be crossed beside the rail bridge. We may encounter bike riders, walkers, or other users of the rail trail along this section.

 Once into the state forest we travel along a mixture of gravel roads, old mountain bike single file tracks, old 4x4 tracks, and a little bush bashing. The terrain is hilly, and stony. There are some opportunities to trot and/or canter if riders wish. Horses need to be adequately shod, barefoot horses should be booted unless extremely well-seasoned barefoot hooves. It is gold mining country so there are some mine relics off the tracks so exercise caution.

Saddlebag Lunch:

Lunch will be beside a dam. The water quality is OK at present. This is the only water available to us. By taking the tracks I have scouted we shouldn’t come too close to any trains passing us by.

The last section of the ride is through suburban Maldon; there will be some traffic and dogs etc. The ride is approx. 14.5kms long, and I envisage we arrive into Maldon about 3pm.

Bring:

drink bottle, lunch, halter and lead rope, and money for Steam Train ticket. Bring water for your horse too.

 Also, I suggest you saddle your horse on arrival at Muckleford but leave the halter on to tie to the fence. Bridles and helmets, lunch etc., can be left with the supervisors during the train ride. The Club recommends that you provide a hay net (with hay) to keep your horse occupied while we are away. You may also wish to bring some baling twine to tie up with.

RIDE FEE: $2.00 BSTHRC & Baringhup Club members - $5.00 all other ATHRA members & Day Members

#Day Members must register online at www.athra.com.au , (pay the $15 ATHRA fee during the online process and $5-00 club fee on the day). Day Members must contact the Club prior to the nominated ride day, and please bring printout of your Day Membership for production before the ride. A club “sponsor rider” will be appointed to accompany all Day Members.

CLUB RIDE RULES:

All events are run in accordance with ATHRA’s Code of Conduct (found at www.athra.com.au ), & the following Club Rules:

• All riders must become familiar with, and adhere to, the Code of Conduct and Club Rules.

• BSTHRC recommends that all riders have Ambulance cover.

• Riders under 18 years must wear an approved riding helmet.

• Riders under 16 must be accompanied & supervised by a parent, guardian, or an adult member nominated in writing by the parent or guardian.

• Horses must be appropriately fit for the advertised ride or event, with feet adequately conditioned, shod or booted.

• All riders must carry a lead rope and halter.

• Stallions may only participate with Club approval. Stallions must be identified with a blue ribbon on head gear & tail.

• Breastplates and Cruppers are recommended.

• Horses known to kick must wear a red ribbon in their tail.

• Unless otherwise specified, dogs are not permitted at rides or events.

• All riders must advise the Trail Boss of any pre-existing medical condition prior to the commencement of the ride or event.

TRAIN FARE DETAILS:

As you can see from the details below, we are eligible for cheaper fares if we make a group booking. We can make a single group payment on the day at the ticket office at Maldon. Those not riding may wish to take a return train trip to Castlemaine for the day.

Fares are as follows:   

For a group of less than 10

One Way - $35.00 per person (this includes Maldon to Muckleford only)

Return - $50 per person

  For a group of between 10 - 19 

One Way - $29.75 per person

Return - $42.50 per person

For a group of 20 or more

One Way - $26.25 per person

Return - $37.50 per person

These rates are based on a single payment for the group on the day. The fares are slightly cheaper for Concession card holders.

The morning departure time is 10.30am from Maldon, with a 12.00pm return departure from Castlemaine. You would arrive at Muckleford at around 10.50am, and anyone on the full return journey would arrive back in Maldon at 12.45pm.

If you know of someone who is experienced with horses, who will not be riding and is prepared to volunteer as a horse supervisor during the train ride, please advise Alan Salter.