“I’m always impressed by what this organisation manages to achieve.”
Kathryn Jaquet, the managing director of retailer RB Equestrian, was elected chair of the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) at its AGM on 24 February.
Kathryn, who succeeds Michael Darley from sales agency Darley Equestrian, is set to serve a two-year term. Her vice chair is Sarfraz Mian of Neue Schule.
Four new members of the BETA Council were elected during the AGM.
They are Emma Hill from GS Equestrian & Country, Amanda Watson of Watsons Directories t/a The Equestrian Index and EquestrianProperty4Sale, Clementina Davies of Hilton Herbs and Dean Cox from Red Gorilla.
About BETA’s new chair
Kathryn Jaquet is the managing director of RB Equestrian which trades from its store near Milton Keynes as well as online.
She has been working full-time at the 36-year-old family business since 2004.
“No-one in the industry will be surprised that this means I have a varied role – doing a bit of everything and feeling that I could do better at it all if only I had some more time,” she told ETN.
“Fortunately, I have a great team working alongside me who understand our ethos. We were all delighted to win the Zebra Products Retailer of the Year award at last year’s BETAs [the leading industry awards].”
Kathryn has served on the BETA Council for several years.
“I’m always so impressed by what it manages to achieve as an organisation,” she said. “No doubt this is due to the incredible levels of work put in by the BETA team but also because of the commitment of volunteers who serve on Council and the various committees.”
Kathryn admits that while she is looking forward to taking on the role, she’s “stepping into some big shoes” as she takes over the BETA chair from Michael Darley.
“Michael has done an amazing job of chair over the last two and a half years and I hope that I can build on some of those foundations - although I definitely can’t prop up the bar as late as he can!” added Kathryn in a nod to BETA’s many networking opportunities.
Away from work, Kathryn loves holidays, skiing, walking and eating. “I’m horseless at the moment but two dogs, including a tearaway whippet puppy, are keeping the animal quota up,” she says.
Kathryn is looking forward to meeting many people across all sectors of the equestrian trade during her time as BETA chair.
“I’d love any feedback you’ve got about BETA and what you’d like to see it achieve,” she adds.
