#CavalierVolunteer - Behind the Scenes at the Dressage Arenas

As you know we have been campaigning over the summer to encourage more riders to sign up to volunteer on their non-riding day at their local events. We caught up with BE member Jemma who not only is a competitor and a groom for some of Scotlands top riders but she also finds time to organise teams of volunteers as well as volunteering herself.

What encouraged you to sign up for your first day of volunteering?
I've always volunteered for BE as I always believe that we need to put something back into the sport, people give up their time to allow me to compete so it’s only right that I do the same and put something back.

What is your favourite volunteer "job"?
I have to say being chief dressage steward is so much fun and I love doing what I do for Forgandenny Horse Trials. It’s such a great team that Douglas and Mandy have and I’m proud to be part of it.

Best memory while volunteering?
I have great memories of Hopetoun International where I did both dressage stewarding and SJ collecting ring steward. Both jobs were amazing as you actually got to speak to the riders and with it being an international, all the big names were there like Zara Tindall, Ben Hobday and William Fox-Pitt. This for me, actually speaking to my idols and top pro riders, was just the best feeling.

What do you do with your horse?
When I get time around my day job and attending some of the bigger events to help groom for friends, I like to do a bit of everything with my boy. So far this season we didn’t start till the PC ODE (April) at Forgandenny where we jumped DC and then we next headed to Hopetoun where he was just awesome and finished on another DC for a cheeky wee 6th place. We recently managed a whizz round Forgandenny to finish 10th whilst also being chief dressage steward which just goes to prove you can ride and volunteer on the same day.

How much work goes into being chief dressage steward?
This includes organising all judges, writers, stewards and score collectors. I have done this now for the last 3 years and although I’m more confident now I still have that mad panic the week before, especially if we are short on volunteers, people always come out the woodwork the week leading up to the event but that doesn’t do anything for my stress levels!

I normally start preparing in November when the next years calendar of events is released and we have our event dates confirmed. When I say start I mean I email all the judges I have on my mailing list to give them a heads up on the dates for our two events. You would not believe how quickly judges diaries fill up. Our first event is April so probably around the end of February into March I’ll email the judges again and get them to confirm their availability and if they are bringing a writer of their own, again this helps as it’s one less spot I need to fill with other volunteers.
I then email my mailing list of previous volunteers to check their availability. The weeks leading up to the event is spent filling up my spreadsheet with names and contact info, when they can do and what they want to do. This is followed by pleas on Facebook and general face to face "can you come and volunteer". The week before when entries have closed Tanya then looks at the numbers and does the sectioning, she then tells me how many arenas we need and how many judges on each day. Now, this is when my spreadsheet really comes into play; matching judges, writers and stewards to each section. I try and put one steward/volunteer to one section which means people only have to give up anything from 2-4hrs max to volunteer.

Friday is then spent setting up the arenas and making them look good with flowers and straight centre lines. This also takes a small number of volunteers and the days are long for us but it's worth every minute of it. I love doing the dressage as it’s the first part of the event and it’s where we can be those smiley people, there to help settle peoples nerves and set them up for the rest of their competition. We also get a chance to talk to the riders as they have that bit more time. It’s a real social part of eventing and I just love being part of it. I also get two radios which is pretty cool and can hear everything that’s going on throughout the event.

Your best piece of advice for a first time volunteer?
Firstly I would say well done the first one is the hardest and I can guarantee once you have done one you will want to do more as the sense of achievement is what it is all about.

If your thinking about volunteering please do. You can contact your local events via their FB pages or speak to any of the volunteers at the next event you're at and they will point you in the direction of the people who organise the volunteers and then once your on our radar we can keep you updated.

Thanks so much to Jemma for taking the time to give us an insight into just how much work goes on behind the scenes at the events we enjoy so much.