Call For Deserving Locals

SCONE and the Upper Hunter is blessed to have an array of passionate equine enthusiasts from world class dressage competitors to people who drove stock to camp drafts and help at pony club.

The Scone Horse Festival Committee has called for nominations for the 2016 Horse Festival VIP.

President of the Committee, Lee Watts, said there were many worthy people in the equine community who deserved recognition.

“Nominating someone is a great way to acknowledge people who really deserve a pat on the back for their efforts,” Ms Watts said.

Susan Bettington, Horse Festival VIP 2015, with her granddaughter Willow on the evening the VIP was announced.

“We have had some wonderful and very deserving VIP’s in the past and the last year Susan Bettington was a lovely VIP,” she said.

“She attended so many events and we felt as honoured to have her as our VIP as she said she did in accepting the position,” Lee Watts said.

Susan Bettington has been dedicated to the equine industry throughout her life, is well known locally for her work in local pony clubs and internationally recognised for her expertise in course design.

“I felt very honoured and very special and I really enjoyed going to all of the events,” said Ms Bettington.

“And riding at the head of the parade was, I can’t describe that feeling, it was just phenomenal,” she said.

“There are lots of people who have been VIP’s in the past that are highly regarded in the equine field and I was honoured to be counted among them.

“I would encourage people to give some thought to nominating someone who has contributed to the horse industry over a number of years and it can be any part of the horse industry, we are lucky to have many people to choose from,” Susan Bettington said.