2.1

To provide facilities for and to promote participation in the amateur sport of horse riding in Eldwick and in surrounding communities, to encourage riding and showing as a sport and recreation, to improve and maintain the standard of riding and horsemanship, to provide training including Riding and Road Safety Training.

2.2

To organise competitive, instructional, recreational and social events and other activities to further the objects.

2.3

To foster and maintain the Club as a friendly and welcoming club to Club Members, visiting competitors and spectators and to promote good fellowship among riders and those who show in-hand.

2.4

To affiliate to recognised organisations concerned with the care, health, welfare, breeding and use of horses and ponies as determined from time to time by the AGM or the Club Committee and to maintain good relationships with other riding clubs.

2.5

To investigate the subject of bridle tracks and rights of way with a view to opposing those that have been closed and having maintained, more clearly defined and improved those that are in existence.

3.1

Membership shall be open, without discrimination, to anyone 3 years and over who wishes to take part in any competitive, instructional, recreational, social events and other activities organised by the Club or use Club facilities and to anyone the Committee believes shall make a useful contribution to the running of the club.

3.2

A Senior Member is one who has attained the age of sixteen on 1 January in the current year. A Junior Member is one who is at least 3 years of age and below the age of 16 on 1 January of the current year. (Note: organisations to which we affiliate may have different definitions of Senior and Junior). Very young members must be able properly to support themselves in the saddle and shall only compete in classes suited to their age and ability.

3.3

Junior Members shall have the same rights as Senior Members except that they may not be Officers of the Club. A parent, foster parent or legal guardian of a Junior Member may attend meetings of the Club along with a Junior Member, and may vote on behalf of and instead of, such a Junior Member. A Junior Member shall be entitled to stand for election to one of the Additional Committee Member places reserved for riding/in-hand showing members. A parent, foster parent or legal guardian of a Junior Member shall be entitled to stand for election to an Officer post.

3.4

Membership shall be from 1 January to 31 December in any year and membership fees shall be due on 1 January each year at a rate set from time to time by the AGM provided that the level of membership fee and any other charges for the use of club facilities and participation in training events are set at a level that do not pose a significant obstacle to membership or to the use of facilities and participation in training events.  Officers and Committee Members of the Club who do not take part in Club competitions, including Additional and Co-opted Committee Members, shall be given free Honorary  membership for the year in which they hold such office.  Officers and Committee Members who do take part in Club competitions shall be required to pay a reduced membership fee which shall be set at a level to cover the British Riding Clubs affiliation fee and public liability insurance component of the membership fee.

3.5

The Club or its Committee may expel from membership, and subsequently refuse to accept back into membership, any member that it considers has seriously breached the rules of the Club,  including the health & safety rules, or who has been guilty of conduct derogatory to the character or prejudicial to the interests of the club or who has been guilty of serious dishonesty, provided that the Committee set up a fair procedure in each case to allow any Member accused of such behaviour to give an explanation and answer any allegations.

4.1

There shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting five Principal Officers of the Club as follows: Club Organiser; Treasurer; Membership Officer; Communications Officer; Field and Equipment Manager. All Principal Officer posts shall be open to job-share. Duties of the Principal Officers, who shall be Members of the Club Committee, are as described below. Designated Principal Officers shall be authorised to sign cheques on behalf of the Club. Principal Officers may meet between meetings to deal with urgent issues, matters referred to them by the Club Committee or to prepare for meetings of the Club and the Club Committee.

4.2

The following five Additional Officers shall also be elected at the Annual General Meeting: Entries and Points Scheme Secretary; Judges & Judges’ Steward Organiser; Jumping Advisor; Qualifiers Coordinator; Trophies and Rosettes Organiser. All Additional Officer posts shall be open to job-share. Duties of the Additional Officers, who shall be members of the Club Committee, are as described below.

4.3

Three Additional Committee Members, who must be competing riding or in-hand showing members of the Club and who may be Junior Members, shall be elected at the AGM. Duties of the Additional Committee Members are as described below.

4.4

The Club Committee may, at its own discretion, co-opt additional Members to the Committee who, it believes, will make a valuable contribution to their work.

4.5

The Club Committee shall meet once every month except that it need not meet in August if it so desires, on a date, time and at a venue decided by the Committee.

4.5

The Club Committee shall at each of its meetings appoint one of its numbers who shall not be the Club Organiser to chair the meeting and another to take minutes and later type them. Prior to the Annual General Meeting and any special general Meeting of the Club it shall appoint one of its numbers who shall not be the Club Organiser to chair such meeting and another to take minutes and later type them.

4.7

Officers, Committee Members and Co-opted Committee Members of the Club shall give their services to the Club on a volunteer basis and shall receive no payment for their work.  They shall be entitled to a free or reduced membership fee under rule 3.4 and shall receive a complimentary ticket to the Annual Presentation Evening for the year in which they serve as a small token of gratitude of the Club.  Nothing in the foregoing shall prevent the payment of the standard fee to an Officer or Committee Member who is contracted to work as a Judge or Qualified Training Instructor on the same basis as external Judges and Instructors at a Club organised event.

5.1

The Club Organiser shall be the principal point of contact for all matters relating to the Club except as determined otherwise. S/he shall coordinate the activities of the Club and its Officers, Club Committee Members, Members and supporters and dele-gate necessary tasks to ensure the efficient and effective running of the Club, its shows, events and activities. S/he shall be responsible for ensuring that all shows, events and activities are properly organised and managed. S/he shall be responsible for forging links and good relations with other local clubs and equestrian organisations and for securing sponsorships where possible. S/he shall organise and issue agendas for, and minutes of meetings. S/he shall ensure that decisions of the Club, the Club Committee and meetings of the Principal Officers are implemented.

5.2

The Treasurer shall be responsible for properly maintaining the accounts and balances of the Club and its funds in agreed bank accounts and held in cash. S/he shall produce an annual budget and monitor income and expenditure against that budget. S/he shall make written reports of income and expenditure and balances to each meeting of the Club and Club Committee, produce a detailed annual financial statement at year end and shall make recommendations in respect of all financial matters. S/he shall also be responsible for all leasing, letting and hire matters including the operation of the field hire scheme.

5.3

The Membership Officer shall administer the membership of the Club and be responsible for maintaining an accurate list of paid-up members and their horses and ponies, visiting competitors and friends of the club and for producing membership cards (if issued), competitor numbers and address labels for newsletter and other mailings. S/he shall seek to identify opportunities to maintain, increase and develop membership.

5.4

The Communication Officer shall be responsible for producing regular Club newsletters and notices to Members in an agreed format that takes into account the experience and ability of the occupant of the post. S/he shall, if required by the Club Committee, ensure that the Club Committee sees and approves a draft of the newsletter before it is issued. S/he shall be responsible for the production of all literature and advertisements for issue to members, newspapers and magazines and other outlets as necessary. In conjunction with the Club Organiser, s/he shall be the Club spokesperson to the press and other media.

5.5

The Field & Equipment Manager shall be responsible for ensuring that the Club fields are maintained in good and safe order and that walls, fences, gates, temporary buildings and toilet are maintained, repaired and replaced as necessary. S/he shall ensure that jumping and other equipment is maintained, repainted, repaired and replaced as necessary. S/he shall ensure that grass is cut before events and that obstacles that could cause injury are removed from horse and spectator areas. S/he shall ensure that equipment is safely stored for the winter and ready for the start of the following season.

5.6

The Entries and Points Scheme Secretary shall be responsible for administering the entries to each points show and other competition. S/he shall be responsible for ensuring that there are sufficient people allocated to entries duties at each show and other competition and coordinate runner duties. S/he shall monitor the number of entrants to each class over the year and make recommendations to the Committee on any changes that s/he thinks should be made to the schedule. S/he shall administer the points scheme. S/he shall be responsible for maintaining the first-aid kit and accident book.

5.7

The Judges and Judges’ Steward Organiser shall be responsible for securing judges and their stewards for points shows and other competitions and shall maintain contact and good relations with past, present and prospective judges.

5.8

The Jumping Advisor shall design and, where possible, build show-jumping and working hunter courses for points shows and other competitions. S/he shall advise the Committee on all matters concerned with jumping, including training.

5.9

The Qualifiers Coordinator actively shall seek qualifier opportunities, if possible in advance of the production of the annual Club handbook. S/he shall be responsible for recommending to the Committee the manner in which those who will represent the Club are selected. S/he shall be responsible for all the administration, documentation, notification to those who have qualified and the collection of entry fees, and notification to the organisations arranging events for which members have qualified within the deadlines involved and for liaising with such organisations.

5.10

The Awards and Points Organiser shall ensure that trophies, rosettes and other prizes are obtained for the season and that they are available for presentation when needed. S/he shall maintain the Trophies Book and ensure all trophies are returned when due. S/he shall maintain the points scheme.

5.11

Additional Committee Members and Co-opted Committee Members shall play a full part in the management of the Club and will be expected to assist at shows when they are not competing, and helping with the setting up of the Club field and the maintenance of the Club fields and equipment.

5.12

The Club Committee may vary the tasks of individual Officers to take account of their individual circumstances. All Officers and Committee Members will be expected to attend Club Committee meetings and operate flexibly, and help each other, in order that the Club operates efficiently, effectively and smoothly. They shall seek to act in a way that enables the Club to live up to its reputation as welcoming, friendly and helpful. Officers and Committee Members who find they cannot manage the task allocated to them should advise the Club Organiser as soon as possible so that a solution can be found.

5.13

The Club Committee shall have the power to fill Officer vacancies or combine duties in the event of a vacancy arising or a post not being filled at the Annual General Meeting. If the duties of a post are not being carried out satisfactorily and no other solution can be found, the Club Committee shall, as a last resort, have the power to ask the person filling the post to resign from office.

5.14

Members shall be expected to give up a little of their time to help set up events and clear away afterwards, undertake steward duties, and help with the maintenance of the Club fields and property at the start of the season and at the end when everything is put away. 

6.1

The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held on the first Monday of December of each year to transact the following business:
 

6.2

The agenda for the Annual General Meeting shall be sent out at least fourteen days before the meeting.

6.3

A Special General Meeting of the Club may be called by the Club Committee, or by a request signed by not less than five Members who shall not be members of the Club Committee specifying the business to be discussed. The Club Organiser shall give Members at least ten days’ notice of such a meeting and shall specify the business to be discussed.

6.4

Members wishing to place a proposal before an AGM or SGM but submit the proposal to the Club Organiser in writing at least seven days in advance of the meeting.

The Officers and Club Committee shall ensure that the Club operates with adequate public liability insurance at all times.

8.1

The Club does not accept liability for accidents to riders, handlers, owners, grooms, spectators or any other person or for loss or damage to any animal, vehicles or property at any competitive, instructional, recreational or social event organised or supported by the Club. It shall be considered a condition of entry that each entrant agrees to indemnify the Club against any legal action arising therefrom. Nothing in the foregoing shall affect statutory rights.

8.2

The Organisers reserve the right to alter, cancel, combine or split events and classes as felt appropriate.

8.3

The Organisers reserve the right to refuse entry to events or classes where it is felt a competitor is unsuitable in any way and to expel from a ring or the fields any person, horse or pony behaving in a manner likely to affect adversely the safety and enjoyment of others.

8.4

Entry fees must be paid in full before entering the ring. Only those who have paid the full annual membership fee or who have been made honorary members for the year or can show they are current members of a BRC affiliated club shall be allowed to compete at the reduced member entry fee. Late entries will only be accepted at the discretion of the entries steward and the ring judge.

8.5

While every effort will be made to give advance announcement of the start of classes it shall be the responsibility of each competitor to arrive at the ring for the start of a class. Clashes of classes are inevitable and a competitor faced with a clash should alert the ring stewards or judges to the problem at an early and appropriate opportunity and, if possible and practicable, judges will allow competitors to move between rings provided that a class is not unduly disrupted. No refund of entry fees can be made if a competitor misses a class for any reason.

8.6

Cruelty to any animal shall not be tolerated. Excessive use of the whip, cruel use of the spurs or excessive use of the bit to admonish or punish an animal shall result in disqualification and offenders may be asked to leave the show fields.

8.7

The decision of a judge is final. Any formal objection should be made to the Club Organiser in writing together with a fee of £10 which shall be refunded only if the objection is upheld.

8.8

Abusive or intimidating behaviour or language shall not be tolerated and offenders may be asked to leave the Club fields. All competitors and spectators shall obey legitimate requests made by an Officer, steward or judge.

8.9

Junior members must wear body protectors in all classes with jumps and it is strongly recommended that all visiting junior riders do this also. Juniors must wear hard hats to current BHS approved safety specifications with chin straps which must be fastened in ridden and in-hand classes. Although it is compulsory for all riders to wear a hard hat while mounted it is strongly advised that all competitors also wear their hats while competing inhand. Appropriate footwear must be worn.

8.10

All horses and ponies must have a current flu vaccination certificate and a passport. Animals kept at an establishment where there is an outbreak of an infectious or contagious disease (such as strangles or ringworm etc) must not be brought to any event organised by the club. Horses or ponies showing marked lameness or suffering obvious discomfort shall not be allowed to compete.

8.11

Competitors shall comply with the requirements for all classes and must correctly declare ages, height, correct status such as novice etc.

8.12

All ages are at 1 January in the current year. No animal under the age of four years shall compete in any ridden class. No stallions shall be allowed to compete.

8.13

Entry fees and charges for competitions for which a member has qualified or is attending as a representative of the Club must be paid in full by the requested date and before the date of the competition.

The Club Committee shall have the power to introduce and amend health and safety rules for the conduct of competitive, instructional, recreational and social events and other activities. Such rules shall be made available to all members and shall be displayed at all events held at the Club fields.

10.1

All members, and particularly those taking part in the Field Hire Scheme and others with access to keys and equipment, must not borrow, lend or remove club property without the consent of the Club Organiser or Club Committee; have keys copied, lend or give club keys to anyone not authorised to have those keys; allow anyone who is not a member, or anyone who is a member but has not paid the field hire subscription, to use the fields or other resources other than at scheduled events or shows. Abuse of Club resources, equipment and facilities shall be viewed very seriously.

10.2

Trophies, keys and any other Club property must be returned immediately upon the request of the Club Organiser, Treasurer or Club Committee.

Any infringement of Club rules, including health and safety rules, shall be referred to the Club Committee for determination and appropriate action.

Eldwick Riding Club shall be a non-profit-making club and all surplus income or profits shall be reinvested in the Club.  The Club shall seek to maintain sufficient reserves in its bank account to cover the regular replacement, repair and renewal of storage facilities, equipment, fences, walls and groundwork; to cover unforeseen repairs and replacements necessitated by forces of nature; and with sufficient reserves to cover fixed and essential costs for the following year should bad weather or animal disease prevent or curtail the operation of the Club the following year.  No surpluses or assets shall be distributed to Members or to third parties subject to the provisions of Rule 13 – ‘Dissolution of the Club’.

In the event that the Club is dissolved, any assets remaining after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Club but shall be given or transferred to one or more of the following approved sporting or charitable bodies:

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These rules may be added to, repealed or amended by resolution to an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting of the Club provided that no such resolution shall be deemed to have been carried unless carried by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting and provided that any such resolution and any proposed additions and amendments have been circulated with the agenda. Notwithstanding the above, the Club Committee shall, by a simple majority, have power to introduce new and changed rules for the conduct of competitions and other events at any time provided that such changes are ratified by a subsequent Annual General Meeting.