Some people may have noticed that the ACT Government is trialing a new approach to exercising our furry friends. Since earlier this year dogs can be exercised off-leash in public sports grounds as long as there is not formal sport taking place.
The Equestrian Park Management Group was concerned that this may have implications for the Park despite it being until now a designated dog-on-leash area. After all Equestrian Park is a public park and formal events do take place there. Most club events specify that any companion dogs be on a leash. The issue is that the Park is also used on a daily basis by people on horse back who are not participating in formal sport but simply training or recreating. Not all horses are happy around unrestrained dogginess.
It took a while to find the responsible bureaucrat but we can now confirm that Equestrian Park remains a dog-on-leash area at all times and you are within your rights to ask people to restrain their animals in all parts of the Park. ACT Animal Management will be erecting signs to this effect on the relevant gates into the Park.