Area II, in conjunction with Waredaca Horse Trials, Seneca Valley Pony Club Horse Trials and the Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm, is pleased to announce an exciting new program to promote and recognize the heart and soul of eventing: volunteers.
From volunteer check-in on your smartphone to an online source for organizers to coordinate volunteers, this new pilot program, the Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) kicks off with big plans to streamline the volunteer experience. Area II will launch and test this idea before expanding across the country.
The cornerstone of VIP, through the generous contribution of Area II, is the website, eventingvolunteers.com. This site is poised to be the go-to place for volunteers and organizers alike. Participants can sign up for volunteer shifts at participating events directly through the site, and organizers can also use the page as a point of communication with volunteers. Eventually, this site will also feature any resource a volunteer could need including summaries of volunteer jobs, tips on what to bring for the day and information on getting more involved in the sport.
Volunteers receive a custom lanyard and neck wallet similar to those we've used at convention, recognizing them as VIP Program participants. Over time, volunteers can decorate the lanyards with incentive pins and other recognition markers as they complete volunteer time. Once at an event, volunteers will "check in" and “out” to the time-keeping system using their smartphones or manually; organizers can also check volunteers in and out.
The program will track a leaderboard for volunteers, based on the hours volunteers contribute, with bonuses for volunteers who go to events at different locations or hit hourly milestones. Volunteers will be recognized with awards at our area meeting, and nationally as the program is expanded.
You can take the new VIP website for a test drive here.
The United States Eventing Association (USEA) Foundation serves as the administrator for numerous grants and scholarships, including the Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Grant. On the evening of Saturday, September 7, 2024, the USEA Foundation was made aware of allegations of equine abuse, which included links to videos which appear to show a recipient of a Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Grant striking a horse.
When 15-year-old Sophia Lieberman first laid eyes on her dapple gray mustang Bear Necessities three years ago in Alabama, she had no idea what the future might hold for them. Lieberman and her mother, Dr. Alison LaCarrubba, DVM, were on the hunt for a new project pony, and the 14-hand gelding seemed like he might be a good fit.
Rebecca Farm and the Broussard Family have been made aware of allegations of horse abuse regarding one of the 2023 Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Grant recipients.
The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is pleased to announce the Equine Network’s Horse Week has returned as a “Media Partner of the USEA,” as well as a “Contributing Sponsor for the USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships.”