Brenda Cardoza, the owner of Graceland Stables, has hit back at a group seeking to take over the leadership of the sport on the Island.

Arnold Manders, the Driving Horse and Pony Club president, will resign from his post with a year remaining on his term at the association’s AGM next month amid the threat of a vote of no confidence from a group of club members.

Manders’s wife, Robin, will also step down as secretary, while Cameron Harris has already resigned as vice-president.

“I’m baffled to see that anyone would try to remove the present committee by having a vote of no confidence,” Cardozoa said.

“How anyone can even contemplate trying to bring a vote of no confidence against this committee is beyond comprehension.

“It seems to me that this should be called a ‘vote of I don’t like you and can’t get my own way’ and that is just not acceptable.”

Cardoza said that the association had made positive strides under the leadership of Manders, who also cited growing work and family commitments as reasons for resigning.

“Anyone can see, if they are being totally honest, that this committee with Arnold at the helm has gone above and beyond the call of duty for us, the members,” Cardoza added.

“Before Arnold came on board, we had no CableVision Stakes, no Boxing Day Stakes prize money or blankets, and no beautiful leather halters and lead ropes as prizes.

“We had no participant trophies at our prize presentation or any gifts of appreciation for our dedicated volunteers.

“This committee took our club out of the red three years ago and has operated with a profit.

“Arnold and Robin, along with the entire committee, have made all of these benefits for us — the owners and drivers — possible.”

Cardoza is adamant that the rift between the present administration and the disgruntled members stems from personality clashes more than anything else.

“It saddens me to see that personality conflicts have allowed people to make decisions that are not in the best interest of our club,” she said.

“I can only say that I hope that the new committee, whoever they are, will work just as hard as Arnold and his committee have in order for our club to continue to prosper.”

Cardoza added: “I thank the present committee for all their hard work over the last few years. It really is appreciated by the majority of us.

“I would love to see them finish their term, but completely understand their desire to step down, as they are human and they feel that they can no longer take abuse from certain members of the club.”