United States Eventing Association

Thanks to Leslie Threlkeld, writing for EventingNation.com, who wrote this fabulous article on ways for volunteers to be better prepared. Volunteers are the backbone of our sport – without them, our sport could not exist. Looking for ways to volunteer this year? Contact your local event organizers to find out if they need jump judges (they will) or other volunteer possibilities. Also, check out your local Areas and see if you can lend a hand, or consider joining a USEA committee. Still interested in giving back to our sport? Contact us, and we’ll find something that interests you! ‘Til then, enjoy Leslie’s article on volunteers…

“EN Says Thanks to Volunteers”

3-Day Events, Horse Trials, and schooling shows would never happen without the hard-working dressage stewards, jump judges, score runners and pole picker-uppers. While we might not always remember to say thank you as we fly by on course, I speak for the whole of Eventing Nation when I say THANK YOU. We really do appreciate the long hours our volunteers put in at competitions. Recent changes to the sport also require volunteers to carry more responsibility in terms of decision-making and controlling spectators. Here are a few tips and links that our beloved volunteers may find useful in the collective effort to improve the quality of our great sport.

Forget Me Not

Competition organizers deeply appreciate the volunteers who make the show possible and make an effort to provide what they can for them including breakfast, lunch, and maybe a coupon. Some things they will not provide, so remember to pack a few things.

• A foldable chair: Some venues allow you to take your car on course, depending on the weather and footing conditions, but some prefer not to risk damage to the course. Mum uses an Ariat chair I acquired at the AEC one year; she calls it her $10,000 chair.
• Sunscreen: I left Foxhall one year with very badly burned legs, and then got sent home from school the next day because the shorts I wore were "too short." Moral? Bring sunscreen or you'll get to stay home from school.
• A book: There can be significant downtime between levels while judges reposition. Reading material is fine, but an iPod may cause you to miss important information over the radio.
• Water and snacks: Many venues provide these sporadically throughout the day. Bring some of your own just in case.
• Trash bag: Because you don't want to be a litterbug
• Toilet Paper: Breaks and bathrooms can be few and far between on course. You get it...
• A Watch: You may need to time any odd occurrences like holds on course
• Foul-weather gear: The weatherman never gets it right on horse show weekends. Be prepared for changes in temperatures or sudden rainstorms. And remember to dress in layers!
• Muck boots or Wellies: Helpful for wet weather or assisting soaked riders out of the water jump
• Cell Phone on Vibrate: Don't be that guy who's cell phone goes off mid approach to a maxed-out combination.
• Bug Spray: It only takes one bad day in the bushes, and you'll never forget bug spray again.

Log on to EventingNation.com to read the rest of this helpful piece!