Minutes of the Highland Pony Society Council Meeting - Saturday 23 January 2010(Ratified 9 March 2010) 

14 out of a possible 16 Councillors were present. 

Matters Arising from Previous Minutes

Christmas Cards would be printed in good time ready for sale at the Royal Highland Show and the Breed Show.  

Stallion Parade would be organised by the Southern Publicity Group as part of the Southern Highland Pony Show at Malvern. Each stallion parading would be given £100 of appearance money on the understanding that it would take visiting mares.  

Report from President The 2009 Dinner Dance at the Drummossie Hotel had been much enjoyed.  

Report from Secretary 2009 registrations were complete and membership cards were being sent out. The Grassroots mapping facility was operational. Major revisions both to passports and to registration application forms to comply with EEC legislation had been completed. Breeders would be informed about the new forms and asked to discard the previous ones. The registration of a 9yr old part bred mare was agreed. The issue of duplicate papers for two geldings and one mare was agreed.

Correspondence

Note for diaries Councillors noted an “Evening with Kate Godfrey”, on 29 January 2010. 

“Riding by Faith through Ireland” Limited numbers of this book would be bought for sale by the Society. 

Rural Development Consultation on Hot Branding A response to the consultation on hot branding was agreed supporting the Exmoor Pony Society’s case for the continuation of the hot branding exemption where there is specific authorisation as before. 

Highland Hospice A thank you letter for a donation had been received.  

RHASS Celebrating 225 years An invitation to donate an original painting of a 21^st century Highland pony to be displayed in Ingliston House was discussed. 

Equifest 2010 A publicity stand would be arranged for the third Equifest Show at the East of England Showground from 19 to 22 August 2010.  

Letter from Showing Council Councillors agreed not to be represented at this forum.  

Report on Accounts including End of Year Summaries and Budgets

Accounts were discussed and budgets agreed.  

Welfare Reports No welfare concerns had been reported.

Reports of Committee Meetings

Judges The review of the current Judges Scheme continued.  

Finance and General Accounts and expenditure were discussed.  

Reports of External Meetings There was a report on the Your Horse Live event in November 2009. Sincere thanks were expressed to those who had organised the trade stand. 

Royal Highland Show A response to a recent letter was still awaited.  

Stallion Show 2010 The Stallion Show would take place on Saturday 6 March at Stirling Agricultural Market. Classes, timing, the Highland Pony Stallion Parade, stewards and the publicity stand were discussed.  

Analysis of Mares to Paraded Stallions The Breeding Committee would address issues arising from this analysis in relation to the introduction of a proposed premium scheme.

Publicity Leaflet including Breed Standard A draft of the revised publicity leaflet was discussed.  

Stud Book 2009 Revisions to the content of the Stud Book were discussed.

Breed Show 2010 Arrangements for the Breed Show continued.

Dinner Dance 2011 A venue for the 2011 Dance in Angus was agreed.

Performance Award Presentations

The recent Performance Award Presentations and the dates of the Scheme in Scotland were discussed.  

HPS Headquarters The future of the office of the Society was discussed.

Colt Accommodation Scheme Only two applications had been received and these would be referred to local breeders. 

Any Other Business

SEBA Meeting The SEBA Conference had been postponed. 

SEA Two representatives would attend a SEA briefing in Aberdeenshire.  

Royal Festival of the Horse As the Royal Festival of the Horse (superseding the Royal Show) was to take place on the Breed Show weekend, an invitation to have a publicity stand would be declined.  

Newsletter Articles for the Spring/Summer 2010 Newsletter were requested.  

Stallion licence application It was agreed that there was no requirement for inspection of a stallion licensing application which had caused question.  

Date of Next Meeting - Tuesday 9 March 2010 at 1300hrs