2019 June Newsletter

From the Board

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL MEMBERS

 

If you need information or assistance with any RPSBS related matters please check the web site first. If the information or help you require cannot be sourced from the website we urge members to phone the office. The staff are only too willing to provide information and assistance with any difficulties you may be having with memberships, registrations, transfers etc.

REMINDER:  The Board is trying to get as many of our Riding Ponies that have been bred recognised in the Stud Book.  If you do have animals that are not registered please at least get the paperwork done and submitted to the office.  Payment plans can even be made with the office to assist members that have a few unregistered animals.  Remember there is a moratorium until July 31 whereby animals or any age can be registered for the same price as a foal.

The Annual General Meeting of the Riding Pony Stud Book Society Ltd. was held at 4.00pm Saturday, 8th June 2019, at the Tradewinds Hotel, East Fremantle, Western Australia.  Unfortunately the weather was wild but the hospitality from our WA members made the trip to the west most memorable.

At 2.00pm on the afternoon of the AGM a Judges’ Seminar was held for the WA members with Mike Smith discussing the Board’s expectations of RPSBS Judges and Robert Cockram discussing the types of animals and way of going expected in each of the Riding Pony classes.

The 2020 AGM will be held at 4.00pm with the Forum commencing at 4.45pm on Saturday 27th June at the Holiday Inn Sydney Airport.

The reports and financials presented at the meeting together with the power point presentations containing some very interesting statistics and graphs are available on the web site.  Of particular interest to those present was the slide depicting the schedule of fees in 2019 as compared with those 10 years ago in 2009.

2019-20 Board of Directors: Following the AGM the Directors retired to elect their Chair and Vice Chairs for 2019-20.  The six directors are Robert cockram (Vic), Ashley Cooper (NSW), Alyson Emery (SA), Tania Hay (Tas), Eileen Morris (WA), and Mike Smith (Qld). Mike Smith was elected Chair, 1st Vice Chair Alyson Emery and 2nd Vice Chair Robert Cockram.  Deb Watson is now the non-executive Company Treasurer/Secretary, Helen Dohan retains the position of Registrar and Teresa Edwards is appointed as the RPSBS Office Secretary.

The Members’ Forum was extremely positive with all members actively involved.  The major outcomes from the forum were:

1. The Board should actively seek ways in which an interaction with the German Riding Pony enthusiasts in Australia could be initiated which would be of mutual benefit;

2. The Board needs to investigate ways in which members might be enticed to read the Information Bulletins that are emailed to them each month.  It was obvious from the forum that many members do not bother to read the bulletins, check facebook or look at the web site and hence feel that there is no communication when, in fact, the information is being posted regularly.

Change to Showing Rules & Regulations: Section A colts 2yrs & over no longer have to be adult registered to be shown.  All that is now required is a veterinary certificate stating the suitability and soundness for breeding purposes be lodged with the National Office.

2019 RPSBS Australian Performance Horse Magazine National Annual High Point Awards 

The winners of the RPSBS Leaderboard competition were announced at the AGM.

Congratulations to all the winners and placegetters.  A very special mention To Gracie Humphreys from Nullawin, Victoria with Karlana Spring Chatter for taking out 6 awards.  Apparently Gracie was very excited about the competition and made it her goal to win it. Certainly an inspiration to us all.

Please support the our valued sponsors:
Australian Performance Horse Magazine
Barastoc Horse
County Saddlery Australia
Essential Equine Nutrition
Horse Deals
Giddy-Up Girl
Olympus Feeds
The NRG Team
Realities Cold Cast Bronze

2019 Upcoming Events

14th July QLD – RPSBS / Welsh Youngstock Show

21st July VIC – Combined Judges Workshop

3rd August VIC – Junior development clinic with Paul Austin

27th June 2020 – RPSBS Ltd AGM

VIC Committee News

Victorian AMM, 25th May 2019, at Werribee RSL Victoria.
A good meeting was held with reports on the junior development clinic held at Kilmore with Paul Austin as the instructor, a lot of work has been put into this by Tara Kirk, with help from Jodie Christoffersen and Greg Gerry has offered to help do some teaching of the children on conformation and showing their animals in hand as to how to stand them up correctly etc and we thank him for his time.

Financials were presented to the State with a good year behind us with Six well run shows, and we had just held the RPSBS Vic foal show prior to this meeting with a good turn out of animals.

A big thank you to the Marleen Hart for the catering and Sandra Donovan for her huge effort in getting sponsorship and support for our shows to make them viable.

A good forum was held and several comments were aired by the usual members and these have been taken back to the board for reviewing along with comments from the Victorian committee, all these were on the agenda already and the bulletin and web site will carry the answers and outcomes of the issues brought up.

PICTURED: Mr Peter Barry, Mirinda Stud being presented with his Federal Honorary Membership for services and commitment to the RPSBS LTD.

2019/20 Committee Chair/Federal Director: Robert Cockram
Vice Chair: Di Josie
Secretary: Cathy Rae
Treasurer: Rosie Metherall
Substitute federal representative: Paige Saunders
Special Skills/Hospitality: Marleen Hart

General committee: Tara kirk, Paul Morath,Sandra Donovan, New nominated member Greg Gerry, co opted Member, Sally Morphy

QLD Committee News

Riding Pony QLD held their 2019 AGM on  Monday May 13 at Beenleigh Bowls club
3 members of the committee, Paula Anthony, Peter Hudson, and Kym Johnson, were up for re election and all 3 were elected back onto the committee.Congratulations to the new 2019 Committee
CHAIR: Amanda O’Sullivan
VICE CHAIRPERSON / PUBLICITY: Paula Anthony (Publicity)
SECRETARY / SUBSTITUTE DIRECTOR: Eleanor Gerry
TREASURER/DIRECTOR: Michael Smith
YOUNGSTOCK/STOCK CONTROL: Peter Hudson
NEWCOMERS: Kristen Bates-Taunton
GENERAL COMMITTEE
Kym Johnson
Greg Smith
Leonie Walsh

NSW Committee News

The NSW Committee of RPSBS held its AGM and State meeting on 18th May 2019 with good attendance. Newly elected committee are as follows:
  • John Paget (Chairman)
  • Amanda Jefferys (Vice Chairman, Publicity Officer)
  • Sandra James (Treasurer)
  • Ashley Cooper (Secretary)
  • Julie Butler
  • Di Godfrey
In addition, the committee proceeded to co-opt both Maia Warren and Michael Christie whom we welcome with their vast knowledge of the industry.
The committee welcomed additional members input and discussion at the meeting and it was fantastic to have the impetus of feedback to drive change for the improvement of the breed.
The State committee is active in establishing a strong show program through the upcoming show season. Confirmed dates are as follows:
NSW State RPSBS Annual Show- TBC (October 2019)
Menangle Park Show – 22nd September 2019 (Riding Pony Program)
ENSW Country Hack Show Gunnedah- 26th October 2019 (Riding Pony Program)The committee is also very supportive of agricultural or other shows willing to support a succinct riding pony program under RPSBS rules, please keep us updated if your shows require support. We will update our facebook and website as further details are confirmed moving forward.

SA Committee News

The SA Committee held its SAM on Monday 13th May for all members.
The elections were recently held with two nominations.
Alyson Emery and Angela Weiland-Hines being re-elected to the SA Committee.

Shan Hunt decided to retire from the committee and Elizabeth Francis did not re-stand this time.

Elizabeth Francis and Julie Lloyd have submitted letters to be co-opted onto the SA Committee.

The recent RP Foal show held in conjunction with the Welsh RPG was poorly attended by Riding Pony members with only 4 foals participating. The feel is with the cost of preparing a foal and the cost and lack of feed in SA currently has attributed to such low numbers. The season in SA is apparently not going to be great again this year also.

The Royal Adelaide Show Breed day was held in April with good numbers across the classes. Mr David Ross (VIC) officiated. As previously stated the numbers for the Royal were excellent and if only we could get these at the ROPTY Show.

The new committee will be meeting shortly to get the RPOTY Show underway.

This show is held on the last Sunday in the month of October.

Current SA Committee members and positions elected as at 13th May 2019

  • Dr Andrew Hunt – Chair and Publicity and Board Alternate
  • Mrs Alyson Emery – Secretary/Treasurer and Board Director for SA (3yrs)
  • Mrs Angela Weiland-Hines – Vice Chair and Ribbon Secretary