BHS Development Officer for London and the South East, Claire
McCaffery-Clarke is prepared to tackle anything. And no
wonder. She used to play rugby both at college and for a local
women’s team!
But no longer.
Her life is now dedicated to the BHS, its aims and objectives
and serving the 10,000 plus members in throughout Sussex, Surrey,
Kent and London.
Horses, however, are a recent discovery.
Claire originally wanted to be a farm manager. She went to Plumpton
Agricultural College but on graduation decided to move into finance.
She spent eight years with the Abbey National as a financial
adviser, three years working with a corporate independent financial
adviser developing their brand and finally ended up as the head
of marketing for mortgage finance with a major UK financial institution.
She discovered horses, she says, because after spending all
week working in an office , she and her husband Jim both wanted
to start a hobby together and get out into the countryside at
weekends.
So why work for the British Horse Society?
“I had decided that I wanted to move out of the Financial
Sector and work in the Equestrian Industry so I scoured the Jobs
pages of Horse & Hound for many months. Finally I saw the
BHS Regional Development Officer position and it seemed to be
the ideal job for me,” says Claire, “I truly believe
that every person who is involved with horses should be a BHS
Member.
“The BHS does so much for the welfare of horses and riders – and
as a charity we rely on the support of our members to continue
the essential work that we do. Not only do the BHS consult at
the highest level on horse welfare, access for equestrians and
road safety but the hundreds of volunteers who make up the County
Committees get involved with local bridleway issues, potential
horse welfare cases and training & education – not
to mention every other issue that can occur when dealing with
equines.”
Claire’s ambition is to grow the membership of the British
Horse Society across her region.
“Membership costs just over a pound a week – and
I think that is great value for the amount of help and support – not
to mention Public Liability Insurance – that our members
receive, she says.
After learning to ride at a local BHS Approved Riding School,
Claire and Jim decided to tread the path of horse ownership.
Enter Wexford, a 16.3 Irish hunter, eight years old, who lives
at Rosehill, near Lewes, East Sussex..
“My big ambition is to get out hunting,” says Claire. “I’d
also like to do a few hunter trials next year.”
At the moment, however, she contents herself with schooling
and hacking out.
What does she think about while she’s out riding?
“What I’m going to cook for dinner,” she laughs, “and
not falling off!!!!.”
