Saddleview Pony Club - SVPC

1997 - 18th December - A licence was prepared to formalise the arrangement and a deed of licence was signed between Dunedin RDA and Fernhill Pony Club. Acknowledgement of the work undertaken by Fernhill Pony Club was noted within the licence with a nominal figure of $10,000 documented. Minutes from meeting suggest that this figure was well under the ‘real’ cost at the time, but given the intent for the pony club to have a ‘home for life’ and with the good faith of the pony club members and good relationship with DRDA, this figure was agreed to for documentation purposes. Pony club members and families continued to support and assist RDA in the long term security of the property by helping fundraise to assist RDA with paying the mortgage payments- doing things like running weekly raffles etc (pers comm. Bob Fairhurst) - grants could not be obtained for mortgage payments.

approx 2000-2008 - Under the leadership of Mr Cliff Lloyd (President) - the Fernhill Pony Club committee continued to invest significant time, machinery use, materials and money (community grants to Fernhill etc) into the grounds to continue to upgrade the facility. A significant 4 stage upgrade (documented) was presented by Fernhill Pony club to the RDA committee and this project was undertaken between 2002-2004 by FHPC with the help of a major sponsor. The arena was refurbished into an all weather surface along with significant drainage work, fencing etc which was funded by or through Fernhill Pony Club. Stages 1 – 3 were completed however Stage 4 (the cross country) never went any further than two jumps put through the end arena fencing. The material value of this work which was worth well over $20,000 at the time and has never been documented by or recognised formally by RDA to this day. In comparing registered QV values of the property at the time before and after these improvements, the improvements to the property value could be read to have significantly increased the value of the property. In this day and age the comparable value of this could easily equate to well over $50,000 in costs and significantly more in property value increase. Saddleview Pony Club wholeheartedly thank Cliff and his team of workers and sponsor/s for this tremendous upgrade that was undertaken and the benefit it gave the Dunedin areas disabled riders and to the wonderful RDA volunteers who ran the disabled program.

2009 - 9 September - Highcliff branch of the Dunedin District Pony Club were losing the long term lease of their land at Highcliff and were to be without ‘a home’. After some initial discussions with the President of Highcliff Pony Club - Mr Gary Cole ( a neighbour to the 98 Flower St, RDA grounds), the Fernhill Pony Club President Ron MacKay and his committee (Kathy Fuller, Louise Lawrence, Nicki Howie, Kirstin Bright, Tracy Higgan, Shiree MacKay) warmly extended an open invitation to Mr Gary Cole and his Highcliff Pony Club committee and members to join with Fernhill members under the Fernhill constitution.

2009 - 21st October - Special General Meeting held and Fernhill Pony Club renamed to Saddleview Pony Club. The branch felt that it was a benevolent gesture to have all new members work as a team with existing members in a decision making process to work together to rename the branch and change our uniform to a more modern style. As another welcoming gesture towards the incoming ex-Highcliff committee members it was decided that the Fernhill committee would increase it’s committee numbers and welcomed Mr Gary Cole onto committee along with Angela Milner and Lisa King . Mr Ron McKay (Fernhill/Saddleview President) stepped down and Mr Cole was duly elected president of Saddleview pony club.

2009 until the present day - Saddleview Pony club has run successful rally programmes including the then Riders Without Horses Programme (now called the Junior and Senior Achievement Awards) , holding split junior/senior rallies once a month on separate evenings to allow for more concentrated work at relevant certificate levels and to cater for varying age groups. Many riders have successfully worked towards, sat and passed their RWH certificates, D, D+, C, C+ and B certificates. Various outside speakers and equine specialists have visited our branch and shared their experience and knowledge. The branch has fielded many successful teams and individuals to local and national competitions from junior level to national championship level. Practices for team events big and small were held on the Flower St grounds. Many long term friendships have been formed (parents and riders alike) in the sharing of the common love of all things equine and being part of pony club.

Junior Day - In 2012 the Saddleview Pony Club Junior Day was developed. This was a one day competition which provided a safe, supportive, educational and fun competition environment for riders from lead rein riders, junior pony club and non pony club riders, beginners/adults and riders on young horses alike. The event held low level jumping (off the lead only), and classes for lead rein and above in dressage , games and obstacle courses along with fancy dress. This event was our main fundraiser for the year and was the start of a hugely successful annual competition which could be considered to have led the way for many junior type competitions of this type which now run in the local equine community, given it’s ‘point of difference’ at the time. Unfortunately this junior day has not run since 2016 owing to limited access to our ‘home’ facilities.

Aim to host Springston Trophy - When the Highcliff Pony Club ceased to operate, a significant amount of money was held in trust by the Highcliff Trust. This money was the result of pony club fundraising over many years and the aim was to have it invested back into pony club in some way. Mr Gary Cole was also the Chairman of the Highcliff Trust, so in conjunction with the Highcliff Trust, SVPC planned to host the 2013 - Springston Trophy. Mr Gary Cole along with the Highcliff Trust members pursued a number of venues to develop into an equine eventing facility to utilise the Highcliff Trust Funds into a prime pony club facility that would benefit pony clubs and riders within the area and also South Island. Land at Waikouaiti and Telford facilities were the two strong contenders but unfortunately despite significant effort by all involved, neither venue was able to be secured to invest the funds into as planned and no other suitable land was available. The Highcliff Trust board made the decision to distribute the pony club funds within local deserving equine groups by way of applications for funding - to groups to invest into assets for long term benefit to the equine community - especially pony club, given that the funds were raised by pony club members.

Highcliff Trust Funding - A successful application was made by SVPC for funding of back numbers, jump fills and equipment - this was to be utilised essentially for our successful junior day competitions to allow us to continue to fundraise and build our branch. The DRDA were also successful in their application to the Highcliff Trust for significant funding ($20K +) to purchase and install a new rubber chipped arena surface. This was installed with the volunteer help of some SVPC dads alongside Mr Gary Cole as president of SVPC. The DRDA application was morally supported by SVPC as we felt that a new surface for the ‘bona fide’ riding for disabled operations was a benefit to less abled members of that community while also being beneficial to other community arena users and pony clubs within the area. Benefits to the equine community were seen, by way having access to a great new surface for riding and training on for rallies, get togethers, training days, schooling etc. We felt that this installation of a new surface met with the principles and supported the vision of our Patron Mr Bob Fairhurst who initiated the purchase of the land. The Highcliff Trust also provided significant funding to Taieri District pony club to assist with hosting the 2014 Springston Trophy along with other equine organisations receiving funds.

Changing of the ‘guard’ and licence renewal - In 2013 Mr Gary Cole stepped down as President of SVPC citing that as his daughter had finished her pony club riding to pursue tertiary education, he felt that the parents of current riders should take over the reins. Mr Cole remained as Patron of the branch and in his final presidents report wished the club well and stated that as long as there are parents and riders wanting to learn and willing, “the future looks bright” for SVPC. As a ‘parting gift’ to SVPC Mr Cole remained in the role of co-ordinator for negotiations on SVPC’s behalf, with the Dunedin RDA to renew our licence to occupy the Dunedin RDA grounds. His negotiations included a 5 year right of renewal clause to provide us with security of a home for the ‘future’. In August 2013 the licence was signed by SVPC and DRDA officials. Based on correspondence received from Feb 2014, under the direction of Mr Gary Cole, the DRDA then began a process of restructuring it’s volunteers, jobs and modus operandi – to that of a commercial type operation.

Relationship Turns Sour with RDA Management - Over the course of nearly 3 years, the previous historical use of the grounds that Saddleview had, began to be reduced bit by bit under the new management and new modus operandi. It appeared that creeping privatisation of a community facility had begun to evolve. SVPC held rallies on Tuesday evenings with access from 4.30pm for 6 months of the year, a few extra rallies over spring or senior rallies once a month over the season, and used the facility to hold our annual junior competition day in March. Community access to the facilities by way of community arena memberships became very limited and members of the local community became concerned with this change of direction that the DRDA was taking. Many Pony club members held financial arena memberships with RDA which allowed them to ride at the facility outside of pony club times - this was cancelled with a few weeks notice - months ahead of the end of the membership agreements. This erosion of use was to make room for private riding school lessons and shows held by DRDA. Efforts to enter into mediation with RDA were ignored multiple times despite repeated efforts by SVPC. Safety concerns were communicated to RDA and ignored or dismissed and resulted in us being illegally locked out. Members were illegally trespassed, the club was sent continual warnings and threats of the license being cancelled and had property law notices issued against us in attempts to get rid of us. The President of DRDA entered into conversations with a lawyer on Just Answers.com in July/Aug 2016 and again in Oct 2016 to get advice on how to get rid of us and make our stay untenable - these conversations are publicly viewable and some of the written language was very disturbing in being directed at a youth organisation (pony club) by a ‘community’ (RDA) organisation. Terms like "do you think that while they are in our gun sights, so to speak, that we could go for the kill shot ..." pers comm Mr Gary Cole -

http://www.justanswer.com/newzealand-law/9yx64-charity-riding-disabled-dunedin-own.html

http://www.justanswer.com/newzealand-law/9vm1l-licence-lease-document-allows-right.html

Our buildings once described as ‘worthless s**tboxes’ in this forum, by Mr Cole, have since been purchased by DRDA for $9000.00 under the deed of surrender of the licence. A Property Law Act (PLA) notice was issued to SVPC on 8/9/17 to undertake immediate repairs on the clubhouse (less than a month to complete) or be in breach of the licence and have it cancelled - requests to extend the deadline were refused and the work completed under pressure with members and supporters working into the night and was at a cost of around $1000. Another PLA notice was issued on 6/11/17 telling us not to enter the premises on Tuesday nights before 5.30pm or else the licence would be cancelled. This was after RDA personnel locked a couple of our members in the grounds (and refused to unlock the gate or let them out when requested) for entering around the grounds prior to 5.30pm (further erosion of our access) and after RDA had security guards positioned at the gates to prevent our entry prior to 5.30pm - advising one security guard that the reason security was needed was because of complaints from residents - a very interesting and somewhat interesting explanation! Over the winter months of 2017, requests for copies of invoices to support grant applications for running costs (paid to RDA for electricity and rates) were refused by DRDA unless we gave them our exit plans and when approached by the organisation the grant was applied to, they were told by Mr Cole that SVPC would not be receiving any invoices for payment. Not long after that when SVPC had committed considerable money to undertake the urgent clubhouse maintenance to meet the PLA notice, DRDA then went about sending out these invoices for payment. Co-operation with DRDA was impossible as in the view of the DRDA management, the only option of co-operation was for us to agree to leave, no amount of attempts at discussion or reasoning were possible, no negotiation would be entered into by DRDA outside of the outcome they wished to achieve - which was publicly stated - to get rid of us.

Dunedin Riding For Disabled Now -The DRDA facility, under its current management, is now a busy 7 day a week commercial operation – operating from “dawn till dusk” as stated by Mr Cole himself. SVPC agree that the facility has had recent improvements and we agree that there is benefit in utilising the facility to help raise funds for the upkeep of the ever increasing string of RDA mounts. In Mr Gary Coles own written words - Dunedin RDA “is a very busy enterprise and a place of business activity. The committee and the ground team are focused to realise the best financial returns from RDA assets, to improve the facilities and build a successful riding school. In the past, RDA were not very active outside of its riders with disabilities program, today RDA private lesson activity occurs on most evenings and weekends.” We believe that- DRDA, now prioritise financial returns from the property and assets over supporting the vision and principles of what the facility purchase and development was intended to be for... ie. a permanent home and facility for both the Riding for Disabled and the Pony Club, to benefit disabled clients while providing for the aims and objectives of Pony Club. It is evident from publicly viewable financial reports, that the ‘DRDA’ riding school clearly caters predominantly to able bodied riders and this riding school function and the introduction of 4 junior level competitions a year run by DRDA, has taken precedence over providing SVPC with the limited access and enjoyment of the facility for rallies, team training and our junior day that we used to have. Attempts by SVPC to enter into mediation in relation to our access have been repeatedly ignored and stymied by RDA President (Mr Gary Cole) and the Vice President/Head Recreation Coach (Miss Katy Ferguson) and their small committee.

Disabled Riding Program - SVPC has always, and continues to fully support the bona fide disabled riding program and the benefits it provides to vulnerable members of society. Many of our members (past and present) have been volunteers at various RDA groups throughout the South Island, including the Dunedin group and some of our members have specialty skills and experience in this field. The NZ Pony Club Association and NZ Riding for the Disabled are in fact ‘partner organisations’ owing to many common principles and the common understanding of the benefits of horses in peoples’ lives.

Our Pony Club as a whole - - Many people who are not part of or familiar with pony club may think that pony club riders are affluent and elite - this is as far from the truth as it can be. Our coaches and committee are all volunteers. Members are from all walks of society, some parents sacrifice so many basic things for their children to experience the joys and responsibility that horse care and/or ownership entails. People share rides, gear and even ponies to enable their children to be involved with ponies. Pony club isn’t all about the competitions, it’s about achievement, the friendships, the learning to work with their pony as a partner with patience, respect and integrity. It’s about having fun with like-minded people and sharing their stories of success and failure and being supported, encouraged and challenged. Riders without horses can be part of pony club under the junior and senior skill certificate programmes..

Some of our Members Started their Riding Journeys on DRDA Ponies - In the past, ponies from the Dunedin RDA were available for children to bring to pony club to ride, in return for them helping care for them for the RDA. This enabled many riders to experience the joy of ponies, and in being part of two partner organisations - NZPCA and NZRDA and enjoy the benefits all round. Many of our riders started out like this. Sadly at the DRDA, this function disappeared under the control of Miss Katy Ferguson in her management role as Operations Manager and Horse management. Outside of disabled riding, the ponies are now utilised as ‘assets’ for private lessons and financial returns for the commercial riding school function..

Our Membership Now - Yes our membership is not huge in numbers currently. Some people (including Mr Gary Cole - past president of Highcliff and Saddleview Pony Club) have publicly stated (in forums such as ODT Letters to the editor 2017) that we should all go and join other branches. Our branch serves a wide local school catchment area and a large suburban resident base and we feel strongly that ‘local’ clubs play a huge part in communities and should be located to serve and support local community involvement. Pony club memberships go through rises and falls (as Mr Gary Cole was once quoted saying) and suitable grounds for pony club activities are like hens teeth and not just readily ‘available’. We have a very dedicated and hard working committee - 5 of whom are still committee members from back in 2007. Our president Louise Lawrence leads our committee with commitment, pride and resilience. A couple of our riders started their riding journeys at Fernhill and through the name change to Saddleview

History and Hard Work Deserve Recognition and Good Faith - We believe strongly in acknowledging and celebrating the hard work and effort of those before us, those that have built the grounds up from a swampy bog to a fully functional community equine facility that was once enjoyed by local riders with community arena membership access and as our ‘home ground’ alongside the bona-fide disabled riding program. The Flower street RDA facility was largely built by pony club members work and goodwill and this has not been acknowledged or respected by the current RDA management.

• The facility was fully intended to be our home with the DRDA permanently - but our ability to stay has been made untenable.

• The facility was developed by pony club blood sweat and tears to build strong bones and the functional foundation and facility. This hard work has enabled the current management of DRDA to visibly add to and let’s not forget all the community funding support (public donations and grants) which we believe is applied for as for RIDING FOR THE DISABLED - not identified as fundamentally, riding for the ‘abled’ or the commercial riding school.

Saddleview Pony Club Exits 98 Flower Street - As of Tuesday 6th February 2018 we no longer hold a licence to occupy at the Dunedin Group RDA Grounds 98 Flower St and have vacated the premises. We believe the commercial business plans and upgrading of the DRDA facility and the increasing riding school activity was priority over our pony club’s legal / community use of the facility. It has been made plain and clear over the last few years that the current management of DRDA want us out - even stating they would “do whatever it took to get us out” in front of non-SVPC members. The constant barrage by DRDA, against our access rights and attempts to discredit members personally etc have resulted in us being unable to have fair and reasonable enjoyment of the RDA facility at Flower Street. We undertook lengthy discussions and legal advice over months and as a committee, we voted to exit the property and subsequently negotiated with DRDA management via our lawyer, for an agreement which surrenders the licence and sells our buildings to them in return for our prompt exit - “time is of the essence” as was put by DRDA. The figure received to fulfil the terms of this ‘deed’ ($9,000 for the clubhouse and deck, gear storage shed and pole/jump storage lean to plus $1000 to release the licence) may seem like a lot of money to some, but we believe that it does not reflect on the true value of the licence and the value added to the property over the years by pony club people. This has been a very very difficult decision to make, but one that needed to be made, despite us legally and morally being well within our rights to be there to enjoy the facility for the long term.

Where to? - Does the future still ‘look bright’ for SVPC? Whilst there are no guarantees where we will be based, some things are certain - we are a pony club and we work for our members and not for any personal financial gain. We respect those that worked for us, before us and have fought hard to maintain the founding vision, morals and principles set by those before us, especially that of our Patron - Mr Bob Fairhurst.

One thing is for sure - we plan to stick around and rebuild our future - wherever that may be. We will rise up and ride with our heads held high!

PROUD TO BE SADDLEVIEW (and FERNHILL too)

O