Fast Talk - Yvette Mackney

Starting off the new series of ‘Fast Talk from the Tack Room’ we have an instant interview with recently retired District Commissioner Yvette Mackney.

Yvette, when did you take over the post of D.C. of the Burghley P.C.?

I was elected in the Autumn of 2004 and commenced my role in 2005

What do you most enjoy about the job?

The members

What are your best achievements within the role?

Mutual agreement of a contract with the Burghley Estate Office for the future of the Burghley Pony Club, putting in place a Junior Committee, hosting the Area 6 Novice Horse Trials and the Inter Area Tetrathlon during a year when most events were being forced to cancel due to awful weather conditions, and qualifying a team for the Pony Club Championships.

Were you a member of the Pony Club as a child
and if so which Pony Club and what tests did you do?

I spent a very short period of time when I was 13years old as a member of the Mill Hill and District Branch of the Pony Club and passed my D test. My love for show jumping took me to the BSJA circuit, whilst my Mum went on to be the DC of the branch!

What was the name of your first pony/horse?

Polo

What is the highest you have ever jumped (staying on!)?

4’6’’(a very long time ago)

Your daughter Gemima is an active rider, what riding success that she’s had has made you especially proud?

Much of what I am especially proud of is predominantly through the showing world. From the day I watched my little girl walk her first Mini Badminton course (with a huge grin on her face, and absolute panic on mine), at the PUK East of England Show Ground, when the 2’ jumps might just have been 5’ and she jumped a very respectable clear round with our fabulous Welsh section ‘A’ Rodney, through many wins and qualifying rounds with different ponies at a vast array of venues, to finish up in the main arena under the spot lights with our Connemara Harry, the one many people thought we shouldn’t have bought!

Do you prefer driving a trailer or a lorry?

I used to love driving my old Bedford TK, but dreaded those muddy fields, getting stuck, and having to be towed out. For many years now I have shunted and shoved my trailer through all measure of spaces successfully. My next goal is an HGV Class 1

Do you know anybody famous that we should know about?

From the non horsey world I spent a Christmas with Chris Columbus (producer of Harry Potter films) and his family, I have met Maggie Smith and Susannah York, Stubby Kaye (really showing my age) visited often when I lived in London, Dana (the Eurovision singer), Nassar Hussein went to school with Greg, Arsene Wenger (my Dad was Arsenal doctor), and from the horsey world my family and I had much to do with the Whitakers (John and Michael), Ray How who at one time held the Puissance record at 7’2’’, and Douglas Bunn (Hickstead).

Which do you prefer Burghley or Badminton?

Burghley of course