Jan 25, 2017

USEA Volunteer Incentive Program Rolls Out Online Management Portal Nationwide

By Shelby Allen - USEA Staff

Following the astounding success of Area II’s pilot project, the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) Presented by Sunsprite Warmbloods, is being rolled out on a national stage starting this year.

Supporting and empowering volunteerism has been highlighted in recent years as the Association has looked for ways to recognize these unsung heroes of our sport. The program’s first roots began to grow thanks to the many efforts of the late Seema Sonnad, and they continued to grow thanks to the ongoing commitment of Seema’s fellow volunteer enthusiasts. VIP was officially born in December of 2015 when the USEA Board of Governors voted to approve the new program.

The cornerstone of VIP is the online volunteer management portal, available through the website at www.eventingvolunteers.com or through the smartphone app, which is available for both iOS and Android devices. The online portal was generously designed by Nicolas Hinze of Eventing Synergies, a mobile and web development company.

The online management portal shows available volunteer positions and volunteering is as easy as clicking "sign up."

This online portal is designed to streamline the volunteer process both for organizers and the volunteers themselves. Organizers can post volunteer positions for their competitions, and volunteers can search and sign up for these opportunities. The app will list available jobs as well as mark when each position is filled. Volunteer hours are automatically logged using a check-in and check-out system which is available via the user-friendly smartphone app. This time-keeping system will also make it possible to track volunteer efforts on a national leaderboard, which will allow the USEA to recognize the Association’s many hardworking volunteers on a national stage each year.

Signing up is easy! Visit www.eventingvolunteers.com and click “I’m a volunteer.” This will prompt you to make a profile where you can explore open events, your leaderboards and your signups. To sign up for a volunteer shift at a competition, click “Open Events” on your dashboard. Here, you will see a list of upcoming events that are looking for volunteers. Clicking on each event listed will take you to a list of open positions, and their descriptions, as well as contact information for either the Event Organizer or Secretary.

Signing up to volunteer on the app is easy.

As the program started in Area II, there are many East Coast events utilizing the app, and other competitions around the country are starting to jump on board. Events who have signed up to participate in 2017 include The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm, Waredaca Horse Trials, Seneca Valley Pony Club Horse Trials, The Virginia Horse Trials and Winona Horse Trials.

The VIP resources are now available for all USEA recognized competitions at gratis thanks to Sunsprite Warmbloods who have generously stepped up to cover the costs in 2017. If an Organizer wants to streamline their volunteer efforts, joining is as simple as making a profile as an organizer. Visit www.eventingvolunteers.com and click “I’m an organizer.” From here, you can make a profile for your event. Volunteer Coordinators should sign up by clicking, “I’m a volunteer.” From there, they should ask their organizer to add them as a coordinator.

It is the goal of the USEA Volunteer Incentive Committee for this program to spread from coast to coast and have events from all ten USEA Areas get involved. This sport’s security rests on the backs of our volunteers, and this program exists to not only make their experience easier, but also to recognize their tireless efforts.

The USEA would like to thank Sunsprite Warmbloods for stepping forward to make VIP available nationwide, Nicolas Hinze for developing this online portal to help support our volunteers and Area II assuming the responsibility of testing this program in its first year.

Download the VIP app today on your iOS or Android device.

Jan 20, 2025 News

Echoing the Dream: Small Acts of Kindness in Eventing

Today, we pause to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and reflect on the powerful moment in 1963 when he stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and shared his vision for a better future. Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech was more than just words; it was a call to action that transcended time, culture, and boundaries—a beacon of hope that continues to inspire.

Jan 19, 2025

That “Forward” State of Mind

We’ve all been there—on the horse who pokes his way around the warm-up ring, needs leg, leg, leg coming into the combination, or brings up the rear on every trail ride. None of us wants each and every ride to be a lower-body squeezefest, nor do we wish to do anything with our crop except maybe wave it at that annoying deerfly. In this excerpt from his book The Sport Horse Problem Solver, former international eventer Eric Smiley explains the essential quality of forwardness and how to prepare the horse to expect you to look for it in all that you do together.

Jan 18, 2025 Interscholastic

Stars of the Interscholastic Eventing League Shot to the Top of the 2024 Leaderboards

The inaugural USEA Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) Championships may have been the pinnacle for program members of the IEL last year, but that’s not the only exciting achievement that occurred in 2024. A total of 41 events offered IEL Team Challenges for over 360 program members, and in the end, a year-end leaderboard champion was named at every level from Starter through Intermediate. The following IEL members worked tirelessly with their clubs and on their own competitive journeys in 2024 to earn the title of Interscholastic Rider of the Year at their respective level. Join us in congratulating these up-and-coming eventers on their success!

Jan 17, 2025 Volunteers

2024 USEA Volunteer of the Year Susan Hart Makes USEA History with Gold Medal Achievement

Veterinary pathologist Susan Hart has been trapped in an “always the bridesmaid, never the bride” loop on the USEA Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) Volunteer Leaderboard since 2022. After two years of chipping away at the leaderboard, 2024 was finally her year to proverbially walk down the aisle. With a total of 691 and a half hours, Hart topped the leaderboard to become the 2024 USEA Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by Mrs. Pastures, and win the first gold medal in USEA VIP history, which is awarded for achieving over 2,000 lifetime volunteer hours.

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