Willinga Park has 200 hectares of facilities, including 33 stables, four state-of-the-art, sand-covered dressage arenas, a covered round yard, a heated hydrotherapy pool and comprehensive stock yards.

The project was started more than two years ago by businessman and stock horse breeder Terry Snow, who worked with groups such as the Eurobodalla Dressage Association to set up the venue.

He said the equestrian centre had taken on a life of its own.

“The job has definitely grown as we have identified opportunities through the course of construction,” he said.

“We are a significant breeder of Australian stock horses, so it was started as a place where we could manage them, but we soon recognised, as we got into the project, that there was a need for performance horses used in showjumping and dressage.

“We also decided to build a cross country course. There are warmblood horses here, so it really has become a full competition facility.”

Finding space to house so many different was always going to be a challenge for Snow, who added the support of the surrounding community had been an asset.

“We think we have done a wonderful job, both aesthetically and environmentally,” he said.  

“The people have had to put up with a fair bit of construction traffic, so we appreciate their support.

“We have also been heartened by the level of interest from the equine community.”

An equine community that includes the Eurobodalla Dressage Club and its secretary Hetty Munda.

Mrs Munda is involved with the training of one of the riders at the centre and is also set to run her own clinics out of Willinga Park after Easter.

She visited the site 18 months ago, and said Mr Snow was clearly in touch with the needs of riding groups in the area.

“He asked us, as a dressage group, what we would like to see, but he is also a man who clearly knows what he wants,” she said.

“From the sounds of it, Terry has visited some of the best equestrian centres in the world, and has brought that knowledge to Willinga Park.”

The first event for the site has already been booked, with a campdraft at the end of the month.

There are also plans for significant showjumping event in 2018, and clinics throughout the year.

Before then, more than 2000 people are expected to mark the opening of the park in what will be the first use of many of the facilities within the grounds.

Snow said there would be plenty of four-legged fancy on the day.

“There are some very interesting events happening this weekend,” he said.

“We will have international showjumping, a campdraft clinic so people can see what the sport is about, and also some jousting.”

“There will also be a completely blind lady riding dressage, which is a significant achievement.”

Willinga Park will be officially opened by Nowra MP Shelley Hancock at 9.30am on Saturday.