First Statutory General Meeting

The first Statutory General Meeting of the Irish Draught Horse Society Limited since it was reconstituted as a co-operative was held in the West County Hotel, Ennis, Co Clare on Saturday the 11th July 2009. A large number of the Membership attended, a new twelve member National Council was elected and a number of important policy decisions were taken at the six hour meeting.

Mr Sean Myers, who was present at the meeting representing ICOS, counted the votes and advised on procedures. Members elected to the National Council for 2009 are Martin J Collins, Martin Conneely, Jim Cooke, Elizabeth Deane, Tom J Gibbons, Richard Hourigan, Anne Loughnane, Sean Noone, Deirdre Quinn, Shane Riordan, John Varley and John Walsh.

Proposals on breed policies were circulated to the Members beforehand and four important breed policies were adopted at the meeting as Society policy. The Society now has in place Studbook Rules, a Breed Standard, Breed Objectives and a Breed Preservation & Development Plan.
 
The Studbook Rules adopted by the Society are compliant with EU legislation and provide a framework for harmonisation with Irish Draught Horse Studbooks overseas; the new Rules also address a lot of anomalies and inequities that have long been a source of widespread dissatisfaction for Irish Draught horse breeders.

A number of by-laws relating to the operation of the Society were also adopted at the meeting. Clear procedures are now in place in the Society for the operation of Branches, the Affiliation of Overseas Societies, breed enthusiasts who wish to become Patrons of the Society and a Code of Conduct for Judges.

Members of the 2009 National Show Committee made a presentation to the meeting on their plans for the 2009 National Breed Show due to be held at Ballybrit Racecourse, Galway on Sunday the 27th September. There were many offers of encouragement and strong pledges of support for the Show Committee in their preparations for the 24th National Breed Show of the Society.

Overall, this long-awaited meeting was an outstanding success. It provided Members with their first opportunity to have an equal voice and input into Society policies and to exercise their vote in the election of a National Council to represent them until the next Annual General Meeting. It was a civilised meeting where all present were respectful of diverse views, opinions were expressed openly and decisions were taken by majority vote.

The large turnout and the wide range of speakers and opinions heard at the meeting bodes well for the future of the reconstituted Irish Draught Horse Society and demonstrates the genuine concern of  breeders to protect our native horse.