The Committee of the North Eastern Horse Breeders (both Outgoing and Incoming) would like to wish all our friends a very happy, and prosperous Year 2000. To beat the Bug, we’re producing our first Newsletter of the Millennium a touch early -also, we have a lot to tell you, so on with the Show.....

Changes on Committee: Following the AGM in December, the Committee has seen a few changes (see above list for the main Officers). As incoming PRO, I will be continuing the newsletters (mainly so’s I can fiddle with my new scanner!), and so it falls to me to welcome our new Secretaries aboard - may they do a better job than the last one!

For those of you who are thinking: where are those Scheme Horses now, here’s an update on one of them: The above photo features none other than yours truly on my own mare (by Desert Prince (won Grade A class at RDS last summer) out of a Chou Chin Chow mare), broken last spring under the Scheme by Oinri Jackson of Carrickmacross School of Equitation. The picture was taken in September, on our first trip over cross country fences at Johnny Vance’s new course in Clones (tel 047 51176). On Tuesday 28th December, the same combination picked up 2nd place overall in the Silver Spurs Riding Club’s Showjumping League - this is what the MOT Scheme is all about - producing controllable horses for non-professional riders. We would appreciate any news on other MOT horses, so if you know of anyone doing well, please let me know.

With LEADER II now over, all eyes are on Brussels for a successor to the Programme. An independent evaluation is being carried out on our Breaking & Schooling Incentive Scheme, and all future Schemes in Ireland will rest on the findings of this report.

We are now pressing ahead with the formation of a Marketing Strategy which will use the Equine MOT Test concept to promote the purchase of horses at performance sales to individual buyers - the end users of our product.

We will be running a 6 week programme which will use top flatwork and showjumping experts, to start on Friday 21st January.

The LEADER - funded library is now ensconced in its new home with Bernice in Monaghan Saddlery Workshop. There are over 50 titles available, dealing with everything in horse care from the basic management to veterinary text books on caring for newborn foals, and everything in riding from learning the basics to problem solving in Western Riding to driving in harness.

By the way, if you have any books or videos you would like to donate or loan to this most valuable resource, please drop them by.

The North Eastern Horse Breeders is a voluntary group, and every Member is welcome at our monthly committee meetings, which take place on the first Tuesday of each month in The Loft (Cunningham’s) Carrickmacross at 9pm. Typically, these meetings usually involve planning seminars & events, making decisions on projects such as the upcoming Marketing Plan, and identifying issues in the horse industry which need our attention - such as the EU ban on drugs, or the problem of Re-vetting at Sales (two issues on which we have campaigned in the past by request from our Members). The January meeting is being held on Tuesday 11th Jan, so come along & spread your ideas.