The Council of the CPBS met yesterday for their second meeting of 2016. The meeting was tinged with sadness as Council member Eamon McDonagh passed away since the last meeting. Eamon’s work with the Memorandum and Articles committee was acknowledged as was his commitment to the Society and the Connemara pony. Following a request from the Southern Connemara Pony Group it was agreed to give a High Performance Qualifier to the Cork Summer Show taking place in June. The main part of the meeting was taken up with the sub committees and their plans for the year. The President reported that the Executive committee plan to put together and publish a plan for the year including the plans from all committees. It is planned by the Breeding and Inspection committee to include a show jumping competition on the Saturday of the Spring Weekend in Clifden. The committee proposed that there be one inspection centre for colts in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath which will take place after the 1st of May and will be followed by the filly inspections. Colts aged three years will be expected to jump a fence not exceeding 85cms x 85cms, while colts aged four and over will be expected to jump a fence not exceeding 1m x 1m. A video outlining the inspection process will be available shortly on the website. All colts will be tested for HWSD at inspections. There will be a training day organised to train an arena party in loose jumping. The Performance and International committee plan to organise a judge’s assessment and training day in conjunction with a clinic to prepare for the coming show season. They are also organising the Green Hunter competition, four year old performance mare competition and the three year old loose jumping competition. The Marketing and Education committee plan to organise trade stands at Balmoral show, Dublin Horse show and the Ploughing championships. They hope to collect video footage to make a 30 minute video to use on these stands. The committee also plans to organise a young handlers course and an in hand judges course as well as looking at developing a part bred register and including a for sale section on the CPBS website. Following on the success of last year’s Education Conference the committee plan to organise another conference for 2016. An Capaillín is also being published by the committee. The Show and Grounds committee plan to meet in February to put together the schedule for the 2016 show. The committee will also look at upgrading Ring two, making a new judges box and purchasing show jumping fences. The Council was delighted to hear that a trophy will be presented to the winner of the Green Hunter competition in memory of Lady Anne Hemphill. It was agreed that the 2016 AGM will be held on Sunday 9th October. Following consideration of quotes the Council selected a company to undertake reviewing the current Health and Safety procedures, to prepare a safety plan, to provide training and to carry out a risk assessment. The following mission statement for the CPBS was adopted: “The Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society is committed to support its members to establish the Connemara Pony as the world’s premier pony for sport and recreation through the provision of services of the highest standards of excellence, and to act in the best interests of its members and its affiliated Societies throughout the world.” The next Council meeting will be held on Monday 29th February.