OBITUARY.
P
Penny Pollard FORMER BRITISH DRESSAGE CHAIRMAN, PENNY POLLARD PASSED AWAY ON MONDAY 31 JANUARY 2022, AT THE AGE OF 63, FOLLOWING A LONG AND BRAVE BATTLE WITH CANCER.
8 // Issue 3 2022 // BRITISH DRESSAGE
enny dedicated ten years to British Dressage as a Board level volunteer, until forced to stand down from her position as Chairman in 2018 due to her ongoing illness. Her outstanding business and commercial acumen was coupled with a positivity and infectious enthusiasm that inspired not only the Board, staff and volunteers of B , but also everyone who had the good fortune to meet her. She was kind, thoughtful and generous with her time, always looking to support both the personal and professional development of members of the BD team during her tenure. Penny was passionate about the sport of dressage and, as an established international business consultant, was also passionate about helping individuals, teams and organisations to maximise their potential. These two interests were big drivers in her life that she combined perfectly during the ten years she served in British Dressage. er significant contribution through the BD Marketing Committee resulted in developing and enhancing the BD magazine, the evolution and launch of a new website, as well as introducing the free Associate Membership, which attracted 32,000 new followers to British Dressage after the success enjoyed by the sport in London 2012. Changing the perception of dressage, to ensure it was seen as more inclusive and accessible to all, was always at the top end of Penny’s ‘to do’ list. This was evidenced by the successful launch of Team Quest in 2013 and the introduction of a new Club membership tier for grass roots riders the following year. After six years at the helm of the BD Marketing Committee, Penny was elected BD Chairman in 2013, succeeding the outgoing Chair, Jennie Loriston-Clarke. Her energy and vision were the driving force behind the modernisation of the sport, professionalising our policies and processes, as well as overseeing the move to BD’s new headquarters at Meriden. Penny instigated the culture change that shaped the future direction of British Dressage and helped to make it the progressive and financially secure organisation that it is today.
