Meet the Executives
working to improve showing for all
The Showing Council Executives:
Liz Inman - (Chair)
Liz Inman was appointed Chair of the Showing Council in July 2023. Whilst not from a showing background, she has vast experience in the eventing world having been Event Director of the internationally renowned Burghley Horse Trials for seventeen years, until standing down in 2019. Prior to this from an early age Liz has always been involved in equestrian event management, not only at Burghley but also including running her local Pony Club One Day Event for many years and as Secretary of the Cottesmore Point to Point.
As CEO of Burghley Horse Trials, Liz was responsible for all aspects of staging the event, including the overall administration and finances. She had a particularly keen interest in the continued development of the Burghley Young Event Horse series, which for many years has been acknowledged as a major ‘shop window’ for spotting future equestrian eventing talent. Important emphasis was always placed on the correct production and presentation of these young horses.
Stable biosecurity was always a priority at Burghley Horse Trials as some of the most valuable competition horses from all over the world were stabled in temporary accommodation for the duration of the competition. The requirement to keep abreast of the latest developments in this sphere continues, now most pertinent within the showing world.
In 2017 Liz was awarded a BEF Medal of Honour in recognition of her dedication to equestrianism.
During her spare time, she pursues her interest in racing and until recently was actively involved in training her own point-to-point horses.
Jane Domhill - (Vice-Chair)
Since completing her term as an elected Trustee of the British Horse Society and acted as BHS representative to its subsidiary company, British Horse Society Qualifications Ltd Jane currently holds the role of BHSQ Chair. Jane joined The Showing Council in September 2020 as representative for the British Miniature Horse Society, having been either a member or Director of the BMHS since 1993 and awarded as first honorary member in 2006.
For the last 30 years Jane has started up and run her own businesses specialising in HR and Coaching consultancy work, mainly with the SME community, supporting them in the development and growth of their businesses.
Passionate about horses and riding from the age of 5, Jane has been producing, breeding and showing large and miniature horses for many years and produced a HOYS Champion in 2003 with many RIHS Championships and Olympia achievements along the way too!
Brian Gates - (Treasurer)
Brian managed the family construction firm in Buckinghamshire until his retirement in 2005. During that time, Brian and his wife, Liz, hunted regularly with the Whaddon Chase, prior to its amalgamation with the Grafton Hunt, and then with the Meynell and South Staffs Hunt. They also bred Irish Draughts and part-bred Welsh Cobs as a hobby, successfully showing the mares, foals and young stock at County level from their hill farm in the Peak National Park. Brian has been a Trustee, Honorary Treasurer and Company Secretary of The Irish Draught Horse Society (GB) since 1998 and Honorary Treasurer of The Showing Council since 2008.
Debbie Miller - (Secretary)
Debbie has been involved in many aspects of the equestrian world since early school days, competing at high level in both showing and dressage events with many notable achievements, including qualifying and competing at the Horse of the Year Show and the Royal International with show ponies and hunters.
In later years Debbie has been heavily involved with assisting her son and daughter in showing Miniature Horses which has resulted in back to back wins at the Horse of the Year Show and the Royal International Horse Show.
Work has always revolved around the horse world with administration positions which are inclusive of PA to an international event rider for fifteen years, administration for the British Miniature Horse Society for ten years, and the current role of administration for UK Ponies & Horses (formerly Ponies Association UK) since 2017.
For many years Debbie has been Chairman of BSPS Area 13b (Devon & Somerset), as well as Secretary for the Showing Council for twelve years. Debbie also runs her own Equine Events business (Equi Events) which incorporates affiliated and unaffiliated Dressage at the David Broome Event Centre in South Wales, as well as running various shows throughout the year, at multiple venues.
Alongside all of the above, Debbie also has her own Rosette manufacturing business (The Rosette Box) supplying many equestrian and competitive events.
Julie Templeton
Julie has been involved with horses all her life, initially competing in Eventing up to Intermediate and then gaining her BHS AI & II teaching qualifications which after a chance job offer from Bob Templeton led her down the showing route. She has been professionally producing horses and ponies for the show ring for over 35years and regularly qualifies around 20 exhibits for Horse of The Year Show & The Royal International Horse Show each year. Part of the pleasure Julie gains from producing is the training side and coaching the children to allow them to progress within the sport. Alongside production Julie also judges both internationally and nationally as a starred panel judge for BSPS, BSHA, BSPA, CHAPS, TSR and UKPH. It is for the latter Association that Julie has become involved with the Showing Council after being the Chair of UK Ponies and Horses / Ponies Association UK for the last 5 years having previously sat on the Board of Ponies Association UK for a further 5 years.
Julie is excited to be involved with The Showing Council and worked closely with the previous Chair David Ingle to have the Council recognised as a valuable asset to the showing world. She is passionate that the showing community must work together to secure its future as a viable equestrian discipline and with such a strong support from across so many showing Associations and Societies hopefully the important changes being made will filter through to competitors and ultimately make the sport fairer and more enjoyable for everyone.
Paul Cook
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Ruth Flack
Ruth has been involved in Showing for 30 years and it is an important part of her life. Originally from Essex, Ruth’s younger years were spent riding and competing locally; later she hunted with the Essex Farmers and Union.
In March 2021 Ruth was elected to serve on the Sport Horse Breeding (GB) Council for a second term and subsequently elected as Chairman of the Judges, Rules and Shows Committee. She is responsible for communication with the Judges and the ongoing probationary Judge’s Programme. Ruth is a firm believer in a fundamental requirement for transparency in all aspects of showing and is committed to providing this to members through policy development and reviews.
The future of showing is very important to Ruth, and she is pleased to support the Showing Council and the showing societies, and working towards common policies within the sport, that are advantageous to all.
Paul Hooper OBE - Consultant
As Secretary of the ASAO Paul has been the representative of the industry in discussion as a Stakeholder with many National Organisations and Government departments as the number of consultations and requests for input from the sector continues to rise bother before during and since the pandemic.
Paul has been involved in the Agricultural show world for 44 years working for the Royal Bath and West Show for 42 years - he has also been the Secretary of the Association Of Show and Agricultural Associations for 35 years as well as being until recently a British Show jumping judge prior to which he was a course builder for working hunter and other classes as well as a steward at many shows.
Paul was awarded the OBE for his services to the Agricultural Show sector in 2015.
