Founding NZPCA member Suzanne 'Dicky' Dickens turned 90 on the 4th March 2017, and spent a lovely day with family and friends.
In 1956 Dicky and Elaine Knox-Thompson arrived in New Zealand and travelled the country, conducting courses for children and Coaches, as well as Horse Society clinics for event riders and dressage judges.
In 1962 they were invited by the NZPCA to become National Coaches and A Certificate Examiners.They established the NZ Equestrian Centre in Rotorua in 1963, and ran the first Top Ride, the first National Dressage Tournament and the first H exam there.
In 1979 they closed the Centre and moved to Taupo where they continued their diversification into writing and publishing. The NZ Pony Club manuals along with several other equestrian books and two television series followed. Elaine and Dicky also wrote and compiled the NZPC Coach Training Programme, with assistance from Jennifer Howard and Kay Hogan, and developed the assessment and workshop procedures.
In 1992 both Dicky and Elaine received the Queens Service Medal for services to Pony Club. Elaine retired as a National Coach in 1996, and Dicky in 2001. They were made Honorary National Coaches and in 2012 they were both made Life Members of NZPCA.

Happy birthday Dicky, from all of us at NZPCA!

You can read a bit more about Dickie with a  Click here

Photo credit - Alison Price of Spot On Photo