THE Irish Pony Club (IPC) announced the appointment of Michael Essame as chairman of the IPC Equestrian Executive Committee. Elected by postal ballot in early December, he takes over from Barbara Micks who held the role for the last six years. Essame is a forestry graduate of Trinity College Dublin. He is married to Celine, whose Newstown prefix is well known. He was Area 9 Representative for the last five years.

At the IPC Equestrian Executive meeting on December 12th, IPC training chairman Tony Ennis outlined details of a revamp to the training committee for 2020. Nominations will be sought for the position of chairman. If more than one person is nominated, an election will take place. Two new members were appointed to replace those who retired. Ennis also asked for approval to include three younger members in the make-up of the new committee, which was accepted. Laura Whyte, Jennifer Diamond and Peter Dillon will complete the 2020 committee.

Outlining the training plans for 2020, Ennis explained that a series of C test training sessions will be organised tailored to suit the needs of each of the nine areas. A training conference will be held in Adare, Co. Limerick on April 20th targeted at the older IPC members and the A test. Ennis added that the committee accepted the set-up of a task force to look at the test structure, assessment of tests and accreditation of test accessors going forward. To complete the training programme, Health and Safety Training Days including theory and field-based sessions will be held around the country. A new initiative will be launched at the annual IPC Friends lunch in Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar on April 8th. Details will be announced at the lunch, with a €500 scholarship being awarded.