Rules and Constitution
- The Club shall be known as POLE MOOR RIDING CLUB.
- The objectives of the Club shall be:
- To promote participation in and provide facilities for the amateur sport of riding in the vicinity of Pole Moor, Huddersfield (Scammonden, Outlane, Golcar, Slaithwaite.)
- To encourage riding as a sport and recreation, to promote safety, good manners and respect amongst riders and towards other users of the countryside and to improve and maintain the standard of riding and horsemanship.
- To organise activities for all levels of rider, including non-competitive and/or fun events.
- To organise instructional meetings, lectures and competitive events and other activities to further the objectives.
- To be affiliated to The British Horse Society and to support and co-operate with recognised organisations interested in the breeding and use of all breeds and types of horses and ponies.
- To support and co-operate with Kirklees Bridleways Group to investigate the subject of bridle tracks and rights of way. With a view to opposing those that have been closed, maintaining those that are in existence and assisting in claims to upgrade tracks to bridleway status before the 2026 deadline.
- To concern itself with any matter that will benefit the horse and horse user in the district.
- To support horse and community charities by organising fund raising events.
- MEMBERSHIP
- Adult membership is open to persons who have attained the age of eighteen years.
- Junior membership is open to seventeen years and under.
- Members have to be accepted by the Committee and have paid the due subscription for the current period.
- No junior member may be a voting member of any Riding Club. However, 2 junior representatives may attend Committee Meetings and make recommendations to the Committee for their consideration. Junior members may also express their views at Club meetings. Parents of junior members who are not members themselves may accompany their child to meetings but do not have voting rights.
- A member shall complete the application form as prescribed by the committee. Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport on application regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, or religion. The committee may refuse membership only for good cause, such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or the sport into disrepute. Appeal against refusal may be made to the members. However, limitation of membership according to available facilities is allowable on a non-discriminatory basis.
- The annual subscription shall be payable on the 1st January of each year of the Club's financial year. Any member whose subscription is more than three months in arrears shall have his or her name removed from the Membership List. Members will be reminded via the newsletter of the renewal date.
- The Committee may expel from membership of the Club any member who has breached any of the rules of the Club, or who has in the opinion of the Committee have been guilty of any conduct derogatory to the character or prejudicial to the interest of the Club, provided that before expelling him or her the Committee shall allow the member to appeal the decision to the members and provide an explanation of his/her conduct and allow a proper opportunity of answering the allegations against him/her.
- ADMINISTRATION
- All powers of management shall be vested in the Committee consisting of:
- Chairperson
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Membership Secretary
- Training Officer
- Publicity Officer
- Welfare Officer
- Bridleways Officer
- up to 2 other Committee Members
- up to 2 Junior Representatives
- 4 Committee Members shall form a quorum.
- The Committee will be elected annually at the AGM. Previous Committee Members may stand for re-election.
- The decision of the Committee shall be final unless over-ruled at a General Meeting.
- The Committee shall be the sole authority for the interpretation of the rules and for anything relating to the Club not provided therein and their decision shall be final and binding on the members.
- The Committee may formulate guidelines for the detailed running of the Club and elect Sub committees for any special activities of the Club which the Committee may authorise.
- The Committee shall have the power to co-opt into a vacancy subject to asking for expressions of interest at a monthly Club meeting.
- All powers of management shall be vested in the Committee consisting of:
- The financial year of the Club shall commence on the 1st January in each year.
- The annual subscription shall be as stated on the club website or such other sum as shall from time to time be determined by the AGM upon recommendation from the Committee. The Club will keep subscriptions at levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating.
- The Annual General Meeting shall be held in November (usually the 1st Tuesday) each year to transact the following business:
- To receive and if approved to adopt a Statement of the Club's Accounts to the end of the preceding year.
- To appoint an Auditor.
- To fill vacancies on the Committee.
- To deal with any special matter which the Committee may desire to bring to the members.
- To consider motions which are proposed and seconded by 2 adult members. These must be received at least 3 days prior to the AGM, signed by both members and may be amended at the meeting.
- Notice convening the Annual General Meeting shall be sent to the members not less than 30 days before the meeting and shall specify the matters to be dealt with.
- A special General Meeting may be called by the Committee, or by a request signed by not less than five members specifying the business to be discussed. The Secretary shall give all members ten days notice of the date of such a meeting and shall specify in such notice matters to be dealt with at the meeting. However, the Committee will endeavour to organise monthly meetings on the 1st Tuesday of every month to which all members are invited and have an opportunity to share their suggestions with regard to the running of the Club.
- The Accounts of the Club shall be audited each year by the person appointed at the previous Annual General Meeting. The person should be experienced in accounting matters and not be a member of the Club.
- Notice of meetings to members will normally be via email. Members needing postal notice must make this known to the secretary ensuring he or she has an up to date address. The non-receipt of a notice of a meeting by any member shall not invalidate the proceedings of the meeting.
- These rules may be added to, repealed or amended by resolution at any Annual or Special General Meeting, if carried by a majority of at least two-thirds of the members present and provided that prior notice has been sent to all members stating the proposed amendment.
- Members shall be appropriately turned out at all mounted Club events. Hard hats must be worn to at least the minimum standard with harness properly adjusted and fastened. Hats marked:
British-PAS 015:1998 or 2011 / BSEN1384:1997 or 2012, provided they are BSI Kitemarked.
European-EN1384:1996 Provided they are BSI Kitemarked.
American-All SEI, ASTM F1163:2004a or 04a
SNELL E2001.Australian & New Zealand-All SAI AS/NZS 3838:2006OR SEI.
Hi visability clothing must be worn by horse and/or rider on all social rides and when participating in events in which members have to ride on highways.
- Junior members 14 years and under must be accompanied by an adult at all club events
- Riders must leave mounted events when asked to by a Committee member if it is deemed their horse is a danger to other participants.
- Stallions or horses under the age of 3 years must not be ridden at Club events.
- All surplus income or profits are to be reinvested in the Club. No surpluses or assets will be distributed to members or third parties.
- In the event that dissolution of the Club shall occur, the assets of the Club shall be used first to discharge all liabilities of the Club and the remaining assets shall be given or transferred to another registered Community Amateur Sports Club, a registered charity or the sport's governing body for use by them in related community sports.