Ever since the network of forestry management tracks in the old Uriarra Forest were closed to horse riding with a view to protecting the catchment of the enlarged Cotter Dam, the ACT Equestrian Association has been looking for ways to allow long distance riding to continue in our mountains.
In the first instance, to protect the future of the now 35 year old Brookvale Ride, ACTEA and the ACT Endurance Riders Association were able, in 2009, to negotiate access for organised horse riding events in parts of the Lower Cotter Catchment. This involves applying for a permit and complying with quite onerous conditions, including waiting for up to a month for approval to conduct a ride, carrying $10 million of public liability insurance and picking up and carrying out any horse droppings left on the ride route, whether the group is 10 or 100 in size. While the Brookvale Ride can operate under such conditions they are too onerous for recreational riders and anyone just trying to get training miles under their girth.
The beginning of a public consultation process for an updated Plan of Management for the Lower Cotter Catchment in 2016 provided an opportunity to again engage with the Parks and Conservation Service about increasing the available riding area from that confined to the few trails in Sherwood Forest area close to Uriarra Village.
It is great to be able to announce that Parks and Conservation have agreed to open two hitherto closed gates at Sherwood which will provide horse riders many miles of new riding trails in the area north of East-West Road and out to the New South Wales border. This map shows the two gates in question, numbered 1 and 3. Number 1 is a yellow vehicle gate which will be locked open. The gate at Number 3 is a new locked gate with strategically placed boulders to allow access for horses but not vehicles. One gate (Number 2) will be removed altogether to prevent vehicle access.
Access to the huge area is via cavaletti at the top of a trail off Brindabella Road and another cavaletti on Mountain Creek Road. The Brindabella Road cavaletti is probably most convenient for residents of Uriarra Village. The Mountain Creek Road cavaletti has a very wide verge suitable for parking floats and a nearby dam. The stock gate on this cavaletti has been locked open until such time as cattle are reintroduced in to the area.
The aerial photograph shows the same area. The red line shows the edge of the Lower Cotter Catchment which is out of bounds for horses without a permit. This boundary has been marked with blue signs indicating you are entering a water catchment area. Please respect these signs and do not enter the catchment. There is plenty of good riding north of the water catchment boundary. The area is large and distant from most facilities so if you ride out there, take water for you and your horse and carry a phone and a map!