Joss Hita – On behalf of Kumeu District Pony Club.  23/08/2014 By Lynn Smith

Joss has been involved in Pony Club for over 30 years.  First with Joel her son who unfortunately has an allergy to horses.  Then Rachel her daughter who rode for many years.  Then later on her grandson Mitchell who enjoyed going to the forrest with Joss.  She often talked about these times with fond memories.  One she recently shared with me was when she made Rachael a saddle blanket.

Joss has been a devoted member and friend to Pony Club and its members.  She became a committee member for her branch (Redhills) and Kumeu District, a delegate at Area the District commissioner for Kumeu District, Assistant District Commissioner, Secretary for both Redhills and Kumeu District, a Show Jumping Judge and course designer, Coach, a D and D+ examiner, a T D for certificates and a Delegate to Area and National.

Joss was so very proud of the achievements of all members of Kumeu District Pony Club and in the case of many of our high achievers she played a part in getting them to these higher levels of riding from a very young age.

Joss was absolutely dedicated to her beloved branch (Redills) and her little pre D and D riders.  She often spoke of the fun and progress these little people were having on a weekly basis and also about the odd naughty little pony but remained confident and positive she could help get around many a naughty pony with time and patience.

Several of our high achieving riders started with Joss on a lead rein.  Some of these riders have gone through Pony Club to adulthood and are now coaching and becoming second generation Pony Clubbers with their own children.

Joss spent time teaching parents and riders how to set things up for shows and events and how to run these days. There is far too much for me to put down but these were not just set up lessons they were lessons in nurturing and fostering good ethics  -  they all paid off.

Joss took great pride in our champs riders and whenever possible went to champs to show her support for the teams.  In 2013 Joss and I went to the Dressage champs in Taupo.  This was a highlight for Joss as her niece Mckyla was in the team.  Joss was so proud of you Mckyla and was not going to miss it for anything.  I slept in My Car and Joss slept in the truck with Mckyla and Sheral.  We left Taupo after the event had finished and drove to Cambridge for Show Jumping champs. (Joss slept in a tent and I slept in my car.  Later in the year we went to Horse Trial Champs in Hastings.  There was three of us this time.  Joss myself and Brenda Allen-Baines. This time we stayed in a motel.

I learnt 2 things years ago on these trips with Joss.

1. Make sure you had extra days off so you could have a look around.

2. Not to let Joss drive or give directions as she would get us lost and when questioned on where we were she would just smile and say (you know I belong to the Fucarewe Tribe).  I don’t know where we are or how we got here.

Joss also liked to go to the National Conference and often paid her own way.  She was often one of the delegates and liked to keep up with anything new being promoted by National.  Again you had to make sure you had extra days to have a look around.  She recalled to me a few Pony Clubbers went to Stuart Island after the conference held in Invercargille and road 4 wheel  moter bikes over the Island.

Another one of these was the Queenstown conference.  We had a house at Whanaka and hired a      car.  After everyone else left for Auckland Joss and I drove every day to another area in Central Otago.  She really enjoyed every moment of this trip.  And we were both delighted to find out the Airport was closed due to snow and stayed an extra day.

Joss also enjoyed riding herself and really looked forward to the extended weekends she spent riding in the forest and farms with her riding buddies.

Joss achieved all of this and still had a full time job and time for her family.

Pony Club has lost a very good friend and mentor to us all.  Joss will be missed in every way.  She leaves a very large hole to fill and I don’t know if any of us has a foot or heart the size of hers.  But we can try to do it for Joss.

Our hearts go out to Joss’s  family as their loss is far greater than ours.  But all things considered Joss would not have wanted to linger or be a burden on her family.  That was her way.  Get on with the job at hand and move on.

To our dear friend and mentor may you rest in peace and watch over us all.

Lynn Smith

On behalf of Kumeu District Pony Club

Friend and Assistant District Commissioner