British Horse Society welcomes new members of staff

The British Horse Society (BHS) is pleased to announce the appointments earlier this year of two members of staff. Both took place in January and are appointments to vacant positions.

Twenty-six year old Helen Owens became Welfare Manager, having joined the Society in 2001 as a graduate trainee from Hartpury College in Gloucestershire. She then became assistant development officer in the welfare department and successfully stepped up to run the department when Kirsten Alford left last year before being confirmed as Manager from 5 January. Helen, who comes from near Haverfordwest in Wales, has a Jack Russell terrier and three ponies. She has completed a BSc (Hons) in Equine Science and is currently studying an MSc on the same subject in her spare time.

The new BHS access officer for Scotland is Pat Somerville from Ayrshire. Taking over from Ann Fraser who retired, Pat started with the Society in mid-January and was immediately involved with responding to the final draft access code on behalf of all horse riders and carriage drivers.

Formally regional director for the West of Scotland for the Countryside Alliance, Pat is already well up to speed on the Land Reform Act and will concentrate on delivering an education programme to all horse riders on responsible access. As access and safety run in tandem Pat will also have the remit of overseeing the Society's road safety programme in Scotland.

Pat has two dogs, a cat and two horses, one of which she hopes to compete at riding club open horse trials level. She is an experienced rider, having ridden all her life and completed the Burgie two-day event in the novice section.

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