By now you will be familiar with receiving regular emails from branch member Hazel Perry who has tirelessly organised rallies and events for the younger members of the branch, in addition to oganising teams and supporting members at competitions, for the past two years.  Hazel was also the inspiration behind the hugely successful Mini Horse Trials run for the first time last September and she took on the organisation for this year’s Branch Show.  This week Hazel is at Senior Camp as a member of yard staff.

It is therefore extremely appropriate that the Pony Club should have introduced the Ambassador Scheme as a means of providing some national recognition for such effort and commitment and I am delighted to announce that Hazel has been successfully nominated as a Pony Club Ambassador.  She will be presented with her award and jacket at the Pony Club Championships at Cholmondeley Castle during August.

I am very proud of the growing band of young people, both members and ex members, who have shown themselves willing and able to help and organise.  This gives great hope for the future of the branch and does much to compensate for the all too familiar picture of young people being a drain on society!

The text below is from the Pony Club website:

Ambassador Scheme

We were delighted to announce at the Conference that we are introducing a Pony Club Ambassador Scheme to acknowledge and reward Members who stand out as exceptional and invaluable assets to The Pony Club.  You are invited to nominate any of your Members to become a Pony Club Ambassador if they fulfil the following criteria:

• 18 years old or over
• Actively supportive in the Branch / Centre / Area
• A Pony Club member for a minimum of five consecutive years
• Committed to The Pony Club aims and ethos.

Please send your nominations to The Pony Club office by 31st May 2013.  From the nominations received, a short list will be selected and those Members will be asked to complete a personal statement by 1st July.  Pro forma questions will be supplied for the personal statement to be based on so all applications can be easily reviewed and compared.  A panel of judges will then review the personal statements and from these and select the Pony Club Ambassadors.  Toggi have generously supplied bespoke jackets for the Ambassadors, which will be awarded at The Pony Club Championships at Cholmondeley Castle this year.

Mike