At the end of my first week.

I though I would take this opportunity to introduce myself to the membership and enthusiasts. Thank you to everybody who has sent greetings and well wishes as I start my new role at the Welsh Pony and Cob Society.

It gives me a great sense of pride to be able to serve the Society and its membership both at home and all over the world. It is my aim to be inclusive and to promote the diversity and capabilities of the 5 sections of the breed across the myriad disciplines at which they excel. We are privileged custodians of the breed who are able to enjoy the legacy handed to us by those breeders and devotees who have gone before us.

I use the adjective ‘enjoy’ and that is my aim in this role to facilitate the smooth and professional running of the society office as a service provider for the membership which will enable greater enjoyment and positivity within the Society’s activities. The breed has just enjoyed a wonderful week of successes at the Horse of the Year show along with strong representation and performances at the World Driving Championships. Over the next few weeks we will share some of those individual stories in our Facebook page and the Society’s website.

Joining the society in 1973, becoming a life member, helping my parents with their ponies and latterly our own, I am acutely aware that there could be a conflict of interest as I do breed and exhibit ponies. To ensure that there is clarity in regards to my position as Company Secretary, I will no longer judge at all, and our ponies will not be exhibited under any serving trustees.

This first week commenced with a whirlwind first day of sub committee meetings, held at Bronaeron, followed by a brief meeting of council before travelling to Llanfrynach near Brecon for the annual meeting of the Society and the Hill societies.

The staff at the Office have been very welcoming and I look forward to working closely with them and the Council of Trustees. We have an extremely busy period ahead of us with the sales and transfer season. The core business of the society as a passport issuing organisation is my priority as we have legislated deadlines to meet. To ensure that I am fully aware of the processes and the problems which can arise I undertook training on Wednesday to process registrations which are the pre-cursor to producing the passport itself. An enlightening and challenging experience seen from a totally different perspective to the one I had as a breeder filling out a form for a foal!

One aspect of the societies procedures which I would like to draw your attention to is the practice of ensuring that animals sold are transferred to their new owner within 30 days of sale. This is a critical activity which we must all adopt as breeders and owner / keepers of Welsh Ponies and Cobs. It also has the benefit of ensuring a smoother pathway for all future registrations if the ownership details are up to date and correct thereby saving both time, resources and money for the society and its members. I urge you act upon this guidance.

The development, review and delivery of a variety of component parts  for the new website is also a priority and I will keep the membership informed when a timeline is agreed.

We have several key events to attend over the next few weeks as staff members, such as the Fayre Oaks sales and the Cob sales. I look forward to working with Catryn and her team at Brightwells our Official Society Auctioneers, as well as meeting and speaking to many of you at those events. I welcome all feedback and ideas be they positive or negative, as that is the only way we can improve the service provided for the membership.

There is one other event which I will attend which was an existing commitment prior to my appointment. Mid November I will travel to Melbourne, Australia to attend the Australian Welsh Pony and Cob Society’s International Show in Sydney and the Victorian All Welsh show at Tatura.. This will be at no  Welsh Pony and Cob cost to the society. I look forward to meeting many UK breeders there who are making the pilgrimage down under alongside many other enthusiasts and breeders from Europe and the rest of the world. It will be a wonderful celebration of Welsh Ponies and Cobs and stand as testament to to those devotees who established Welsh Pony and Cob Society Australia fifty years ago.

Finally I would like to extend a warm welcome to you to visit the Society Office and staff at Bronaeron. I look forward to meeting you.

Kind regards

Meirion

My email address is meirion.davies@wpcs.uk.com