Almost 50 people attended a meeting at the Cobram library on August 7, run with Pony Club Victoria chief executive Rick Gill, with Victorian Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy and Pony Club Victoria northern zone representative Shari Mawson also attending.
Following a show-of-hands voting process, it was decided the club would be called Cobram Horse and Pony Club, chosen ahead of other possibilities including Cobram Barooga Pony Club, Moira Pony Club and Muckatah Pony Club.
Between 20 and 30 people applied to become members of the club and, from this, a committee of nine was established. The committee must work on a draft constitution before a special general meeting on August 29.
Mr Gill said the meeting was a success, suggesting the nine-strong committee indicated the group’s desire to get the club up and running.
‘‘(The meeting) was well organised and we had things well under control,’’ he said.
‘‘We knew what we wanted to get out of this meeting and I think we succeeded in that.
‘‘When we get nine people nominating for a committee in this day and age … it’s a very good indication of the enthusiasm to get this club up and running.
‘‘The committee have got a bit of work ahead of them, there is a lot of red tape to go through to get incorporated.
‘‘We have got to write a constitution, we’ve got to get that through, then we have got to figure out some of the logistical stuff like access to a venue, equipment — the general stuff you tend to take for granted.’’
The formation of the new pony club comes after Pony Club Victoria removed its affiliation with Cobram and District Pony Club in June.
Cobram and District Pony Club still exists, now aligned with Equestrian Victoria.
Mr Gill saw no reason why the two groups could not exist separately, but he indicated Cobram and District Pony Club would need to change its name.
‘‘We have decided to move forward,’’ he said.
“Pony Club Victoria wants and needs a presence in this region. We originally thought it would be with the original club, however that’s not worked out, that’s why we are moving forward with this club.
‘‘The other pony club will do what it will do and we will do what we do; we will do Pony Club and they will do other equestrian events.
‘‘Pony Club Victoria runs Pony Club in this state, it’s part of a national and international brand and we will need to have a discussion with that club going forward as to what they need to do.’’
Equestrian Victoria chief executive Matthew Brown attended the meeting, along with Cobram and District Pony Club president Tony Johnston.
Mr Brown said Equestrian Victoria would stand by the original club, which he felt had been let down by Pony Club Victoria.
Mr Brown did not think the club would need to alter its name and doubted both groups would be able to use the facility at Muckatah Recreation Reserve.
‘‘There is no reason the club should change its name,’’ Mr Brown said.
‘‘They are a registered legal entity within Consumer Affairs Victoria and there are probably other examples of pony clubs around the state which are not actually affiliated with Pony Club Victoria.
‘‘There’s an equestrian club called Cobram (Barooga) Equestrian Club, which isn’t affiliated with Equestrian Victoria, and they do a great job, just like Cobram and District Pony Club.
‘‘I would suggest (the two clubs) probably can’t coexist on the same site.’’