Joy Hall

The stalwart of the British Show Pony Society stepped down at the end of last year after over four decades of loyal service. Alex Robinson learns of the highs and lows of her tenure

- Alex Robinson

WHEN you've been involved with an organisation for a substantial period W of time, say a few decades, it can be hard to know when to step back. In 2023, Joy Hall announced that she would be retiring from her post as executive officer for the British Show Pony Society (BSPS) at the end of the season after 43 years of service, with the intention of carrying on to support the society as a life council member.

Joy, 80, has been an instrumental figure within the BSPS, offering wisdom, experience, passion and dedication to the cause, and she's been at the forefront of initiatives that have withstood the test of time and remain in place to this day.

Joy, who hails from non-horsey stock, first became involved with showing when her daughter, Karen, insisted on learning to ride. On purchasing a Welsh section A from the local riding school, Joy and Karen forayed into lead-rein ranks at local level.

"To our surprise, we won at our first show, Baston Show, and we were presented with a trophy from the BSPS," Joy explains. "I'd never heard of the society at that stage, but we joined, and I got to know the late Joan Lee-Smith - the executive officer at the time. She asked me if I'd assist with the BSPS Championship Show, so I helped out with the admin on a voluntary basis."

When the BSPS areas were formed in 1974, Joy was invited to join BSPS Area 17 (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire) as secretary. At the same time, Joy helped Joan's daughter, the late Davina Whitemanwho was a leading professional producer of the era with bookkeeping and entries.

Later, Karen would have her 148cm show pony in production with Davina.

In 1979, the BSPS head office moved from Sussex to Sawtry in Cambridgeshire. Joy joined the office team for a month to aid the move and she stayed for 43 years.