ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2008

The Pony Club Annual Conference 2008 recently took place at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, on Wednesday 5^th March.

The Conference was attended by 440 delegates many of whom travelled from all over the country. The Conference was opened by Andrew Tulloch, Clerk of Aintree Racecourse. The new Chairman, Mrs. Cherry Michell then addressed the Conference by stating that her aim during her time as Chairman was to help impart a feeling of belonging to this amazing Pony Club family, from the grass roots Member to the competitive rider.

Philip Crabtree, The Pony Club’s I.T. Systems Developer gave an excellent speech on the Membership Database. Mr. Crabtree explained the workings of the new centralized database and went on to talk on the high level of security systems which will be put in place and the necessity to meet all data protection issues. The Website will also be given a makeover to update it and make it compatible with the new database.

The Pony Club’s President the Princess Royal paid tribute to the hard work, drive and enthusiasm that goes into running more than 350 Branches nationwide. H.R.H spoke about how The Pony Club has grown and developed in her six years of Presidency with an increase in both Centre and Branch Membership which is enormously encouraging for the future of Individual Branches. There are now more than 50,000 members in the UK and 120,000 worldwide.

The Princess said that the introduction of Centre Membership had been significant and the introduction of the new Centre Equitation day at the Championships in 2007 had further widened the perspective and enhanced the Championships. The organization is moving forward successfully with the introduction of Pony Racing and the National Quiz and many other developments.

H.R.H. also mentioned the importance of the close working relationship The Pony Club has with the B.E.F. and how The Pony Club is an important part of the B.E.F’s future.

The Princess concluded her speech by stating that the key to this organization is its volunteers and that she hoped that those who do this work get a real sense of satisfaction from the contribution they are making to ensure that it is possible for the next generation to grow up enjoying horse and ponies and benefiting from the commitment, confidence, discipline and responsibility that it gives them in all aspects of their lives.

The Princess then presented The Branch Secretary of the Year Award which went to Mrs Daphne Garment of the Chipping Branch, for her 30 years of service to The Pony Club.

Other speakers from across the spectrum of the equestrian industry included the nation’s favourite Grand National winning trainer Ginger McCain, Major Erica Bridge, the first woman to head the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and Dr Elspeth Milne, head of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Edinburgh University and Katie Williams, Equine Products Manager & Senior Nutritionist for Dengie Crops on feeding horses and ponies for optimum performance.

Ginger McCain opened his fascinating and highly entertaining speech with his memories of Aintree and his two Grand National winners Red Rum and Amberleigh House.

The Conference concluded with a question and answer session which gave the delegates the opportunity to air any views or considerations that they had.

Next year the Annual Conference will be held at Cheltenham Racecourse on Wednesday 4^th March.