Ponies UK’s Showscene conference is aiming to cross the discipline divide and bring competitors, judges and show organisers from various equestrian sports together for a two-day conference at Myerscough College, Lancs, this weekend (15-16 November).
Ponies UK’s Betsy Branyan, the mastermind behind Showscene, explains: “The conference is designed to bring people from all the disciplines together to share their experiences and give everyone an opportunity to learn from each other’s strengths.”
The first day of the conference will be focused around the showing world and will be an opportunity for show organisers, judges, stewards and exhibitors to talk frankly about the issues they are experiencing.
Subjects open for debate will include:
- Uniting the showing world, led by Paul Hooper of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations
- Nigel Hollings’ vision for the future of showing
- Code of conduct for exhibitors, led by Edward Young
- Code of conduct for judges, led by Mike Daley of the Welsh Pony & Cob Society
- Jo Bates will discuss breeding for performance
- Cecila Clarke speaks about the sports pony studbook
- David Simpson of Weatherbys will talk about passports
Sunday’s action will take place in Myerscough College’s International Arena and will include displays and demonstrations by:
- Ferdie Eilberg – producing the dressage horse
- Geoff Billington – producing the showjumper
- David Bartram – producing competition horses and eventers
- Fred Pemblebury – competition driving
- Peter Boustead – producing M&Ms for the show ring
- Anne Overton-Ablitt – producing M&Ms as sports ponies
- Tom Best – using the marks systems
- Davina Whiteman – the art of judging
Ponies UK is also organising a dinner dance on the Saturday night at the nearby Preston Swallow Hotel, which includes a champagne reception and three-course meal. Attendees can look forward to being entertained by Geoff Billington and Dessie Dillingham during the evening, as well as a live band and harpist.
Tickets are available on the door and cost: Saturday, £5; Sunday, PUK members £15, non-members £20; Both days, PUK members £17.50, non-members £22.50. Tickets to the dinner dance cost £25 per person.
For more information, contact Ponies (UK) (tel: 01487 830278) or e-mail: ESBranyan@aol.com
