Board Communication: December 23

Board Meeting Held on Thursday 7 December 2023 at 5.00pm

at Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge

Regional / Committee Updates

• An update from regions and committees was circulated before the Board Meeting including a very detailed overview from the Northern Region confirming their annual awards and training initiatives they have planned for 2024. This includes dressage judges training, volunteer training, and a course designer workshop with Alain Ponsot.

David Foster Injured Riders Fund Ball

• Discussion was had regarding the Youth Committee Ball and the DFIRF Ball as the dates were so close
• A compromise was reached and the DFIRF Ball will run in 2025
• Munster Region is planning to run a ball in March
• A calendar is now published on the website showing upcoming events such as training, AGMs and social events

Insurance

• We are still awaiting clarification on insurance premiums for 2024 from our Broker.
• Howdens are to get back to us as soon as possible, which is later than the mid-November deadline given to us

Finance

• Final year accounts will be produced for the next Board meeting in January
• A lot has been achieved by this Board in 2023 and it was felt that this should be outlined in a full annual report to be published to the members at the AGM
• Eventing Ireland has commenced a stock take of all its assets (cross country fences, dressage arenas, show jumps etc). This will be done annually

Governance

• The following Terms of Reference were approved and are now available on our website.
  • TOR for the Board ( subject to new structure to be approved by the members as part of the new constitution)
  • TOR for the Management Committee
  • TOR for the Marketing and Sponsorship Committee
• The GDPR Policy was approved

 Rule Change: Jodhpurs/Breeches

• The Board were asked to consider changing the white/beige jodhpurs rule to include dark colours as part of its Equality, Inclusivity and Diversion Policy. Facts and figures were presented
• Board agreed to poll the membership and to report back the results at the 11 December meeting

HSI

• Meeting with HSI on 9 November went well and progress is being made in respect of High Performance
• EI Board to make an application and nomination for the vacancy on the HP Committee

Training Committee

• The Chairs of the Regions met with members of the Board and it was agreed to set up a National Training Committee to manage regional and national training for members which will include horse/athlete, volunteer training for the whole of Ireland
• Advert to be placed on social media looking for people interested in joining the committee
• Terms of Reference to be drawn up

Board Meeting Held on Monday 11 December 2023 at 5.00pm

at Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge

Strategic Plan

• Brian MacNeice went through the draft Strategic Plan in great detail. The meeting is to give an insight into the Strategic Plan with items to react to and thing that have to come our of the discussions when we finalise the plan
• The three main components of the plan are:
  • Setting the Course
  • Setting the Pace
  • Inclusivity and Community
• The Vision is the bring the passion and fun of Eventing to as many people as possible in a sustainable way
• The Mission is to grow and develop eventing in Ireland in a sustainable way
• A meeting with the regional chairs to discuss the Strategic Plan will take place on 4 January
• A meeting with HSI to discuss the same will take place on 11 January
• The Strategic Plan will be presented to the membership at the AGM (date tbc)

Grassroots and National Championships

• The venues for the Grassroots and National Championships are still to be confirmed

Rule Change – Jodhpurs

• Results of the survey showed nearly 79% were in favour of allowing members to compete in dark navy, brown, black jodhpurs in national competition
• Unanimous decision to add this to the Rule Book from 1 January 2024