Boggabri Pony Club honours the late Beverley Joan Henry at rally day

Boggabri Pony Club held a rally day on very damp grounds on Sunday, when a former club member, the late Beverley Joan Henry, was honoured.

The highlight of the event was the planting of a tree and erecting of a plaque in memory of Mrs Henry, who was a very supportive and much-loved member of Boggabri Pony Club for many years.

Mrs Henry died earlier this year on January 29, aged 85 years. The following week on February 6, at the club’s first rally day for 2022, the club’s flag flew at half-mast.

‘Bev’, as Mrs Henry was known as, spent a lot of her time and knowledge instructing riders over the years.

It was fitting that Boggabri Pony Club paid tribute to her by planting a tree and erecting a plaque on Sunday.

Boggabri Pony Club president Barry Thomson recalled some wonderful memories of Mrs Henry.

“Bev was such a lovely, patient and knowledgeable woman,” he said.

“We had a horse that just wouldn’t trot, and we had spent a couple of years trying to get him to trot. Bev had him trotting in a couple of hours.”

“She said to Dean, ‘jump on him and make him trot’. Dean said ‘he won’t trot’, and she said ‘hop on and we will get him to trot’, and sure enough, Bev had him trotting in a couple of hours.”

Anne Keys also paid tribute to Mrs Henry with some lovely words at the rally day.

“Bev was a life member, a senior instructor, and she always kept her qualifications and certificates up to date right up until the end,” Mrs Keys said.

Jenny Squires said she remembered Bev as a gracious lady who followed through in what she believed and gave time to the club.

Lorraine Christie-Rockcliff had her daughter and granddaughter attend Sunday’s rally day and remembered Bev as always being a kind, lovely lady who was always part of the club, teaching and helping the children.

Many young Boggabri Pony Club riders told The Courier they would not have progressed as far as they had with their riding without Mrs Henry’s dedication and her encouragement and also her brilliant instruction.

Unfortunately, after the recent rain, the ring was not able to be used on Sunday.

However, riders and their horses made the most of the day to brush up on their skills to prepare for their Blanch Trophy Day and Gymkhana, which the club will host this Sunday.