The Jumping Owners Club has elected Robin Cleary Parsky as new chairman, to replace Dominique Mégret who has decided to resign from his position. Mrs. Caroline Blatchford and Mr. Marwan Lahoud have been elected as vice-chairmen. They will all hold their positions for two-year terms, the JOC announced in a press release today.

Dominique Mégret, chairman of the Jumping Owners Club since December 2017, has chosen to step down from his position with effect from the 2024 General Meeting which was held on Tuesday, March 5th. "Highly committed to the Club, he has strengthened the position of both horse owners and, above all, the horses themselves, defending their status as athletes in their own right. An owner of many of the world’s best horses for over twenty years, including Flora de Mariposa, Olympic team champion in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, and Vagabond de La Pomme, silver medallist at the Las Vegas World Cup Final in 2015 and many other 5* Grand Prix winners, Dominique Mégret has made a significant impact on showjumping including on policy, regulations and recognition," the Club wrote in their press release. 

In the press release, Mégret said: "I am very proud to have been Chairman of the Jumping Owners Club for all these years. It has been a great honour for me. During this time, we have worked together to improve the position of owners and their horses in our sport. A change of team always allows for new ideas and I have every confidence in the new team leading the Club to meet the challenges facing our sport. I would like to thank all the members of the Club, who have supported me over the years and from the bottom of my heart, I wish them all the very best. Of course, I am not leaving our sport which is one of my life’s passions, I still own several 5* horses and many promising youngsters and I will continue to be very present at many shows around the world."

Robin Cleary Parsky, the new chairman of the JOC, was born and raised in California. She began riding at the age of six and competed as a junior and as an amateur owner on the California horse show circuit. She founded Buena Vista Farms in Rancho Santa Fe in 1992. Cleary Parsky has had key roles in the equestrian industry including as the FEI Equestrian Officials Coordinator for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee and as an active member on the USET Foundation Board of Directors since 2002. As a Member of the JOC since 2014, she joined the Executive Committee in 2016 and has held the position of Vice-Chair since 2017. Owner of horses that have made their mark on equestrian sports – most notably the mare Gazelle ridden by Kent Farrington, winner of the 5* Grand Prix of Aachen and Geneva and many other 5* Grand Prix. Currently she travels worldwide to participate in the development of her horses entrusted to several riders, including McLain Ward (USA), Carly Anthony (USA) and Henrik Von Eckermann (SWE).

In the press release, Robin Cleary Parsky said: "Dominique Megret is leaving big shoes to fill as he has been a dedicated and persistent Chairman. We have been so fortunate to have had his leadership over the past several years. As a passionate and committed show jumping owner, I get great joy from my involvement in our sport and I will work to continue to draw attention to the value of horse ownership. Hopefully we will be able to encourage increased membership into the Jumping Owners Club (JOC). I look forward to working with the various Committees of the FEI towards this goal and towards the betterment of the sport of show jumping in every way possible."