FEI President, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, visited Somerby Equestrian Centre, Somerby, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire (GBR) on Saturday, 24 February.

Princess Haya had learned of The Pony Club’s Centre Membership Scheme on a previous meeting with The Pony Club and was very keen to learn more about the scheme and see it in a practical setting. Princess Haya’s particular interest was in relation to how the scheme may help with the Development Strategy of the FEI.

Centre Membership is designed for children who do not own their own pony but would like to become involved in Pony Club activities and do so through their local riding school. Membership is GBP 20 p.a. and although the scheme was only instigated in 1998 it currently has over 13,000 Members.

During her informal visit, Her Royal Highness enjoyed briefings from the scheme’s instigator Pony Club Vice President, Ernest McMillen MBE; Judy Edwards, Pony Club Chief Executive; Lucy Goler, Centre Membership Executive Officer; Roseanne Walters, Centre Recruitment Officer and Shay Dempsey, Assistant to the Proprietor of Somerby Equestrian Centre.

Following the briefings, the FEI President was accompanied on a Tour of Somerby Equestrian Centre by the Proprietor, Gail Stimson and Cherry Michell, Vice Chairman of The Pony Club. The tour gave Her Royal Highness the opportunity of seeing some of the Centre’s activities and to meet some of Somerby’s Centre Members.

Chief Executive Judy Edwards said: “We were delighted to be able to show Her Royal Highness the Centre Membership scheme in operation at Somerby Equestrian Centre, which is an excellent example of this incredibly successful scheme. Over 50 people a day are currently joining the scheme and nothing would give us greater pleasure than if a Pony Club scheme could assist in the global development of horsesport.”

For further information on The Pony Club Centre Membership Scheme please see the website at www.pcuk.org