Opportunities to Volunteer

• The average One Day Event needs approximately 175 volunteers
• Help is needed with fence judging, dressage writing, collecting ring stewarding, scoring, working in cross-country control box, car and lorry parking, coffee pouring, 'bun runs' and much, much more!
• Some understanding of Eventing will help but is not essential
• A full briefing on the day is given by professional BE staff or the event organisational team
• BE organises Fence Judge training days at different venues across the country
• You do not have to be a member of BE to volunteer!

Since 2002, British Eventing has maintained a central volunteer database. This means that BE can now stay directly in touch with volunteers. It also means event organisers have a back-up database to assist them in finding help for their event. All new volunteers are asked to complete a Volunteer Form, available from the BE office, a BE trade stand or a BE Event. Once this has been received by the BE office, your details will be added to the database and you will receive your Volunteers Badge and a welcome letter.

BE recognises that volunteers are a vital part of the Eventing community who deserve to be properly acknowledged. The Volunteer Incentive Programme (VIP) was launched in 2005, which offers BE official volunteers discounts on BE Merchandise.

EVERY TIME you help at a BE affiliated event,

BE will give you a discount voucher!

These can be accumulated to give a total discount of 20% off BE Merchandise.

This scheme has been introduced exclusively for BE Official Volunteers.

Source: British Eventing Information sheet: BE Part of the action - Volunteer

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Volunteering with British Dressage
www.britishdressage.co.uk

British Dressage is currently in the process of compiling a Volunteers database for the sport.  If you would like to be included, please see here.

How do I become a British Dressage Judge?

You must be a member of British Dressage and you should have ridden at affiliated level before your application can be considered. If you have not ridden at affiliated level but wish to become a trainee judge please inform the office in writing.
You also need to be recommended by either:

• A British Dressage Judge on list 3 or above
• A Dressage Rider currently competing at Medium level or above
• An Event rider currently competing at Advanced level or above

As part of your application you will be required to complete a short background written examination in your own time, which you need to pass. To give you an idea of what is involved in the training to become a judge, Trainee judges will be required to:

An application form is available online from www.britishdressage.co.uk under the Judges section. You will need to complete this and send it to the British Dressage office enclosing a cheque made payable to British Dressage for the registration fee of £10. Subject to your exam paper being successful, British Dressage will then send you an introduction pack which will give you all the information you need on how to become a judge.

The registration is effective once the examination paper has been assessed and has been successfully passed, the registration is then valid for a period of 2 years. If you have not become a listed judge by the end of this period it will be necessary to re-register. If the exam is failed, candidates will be allowed a further two attempts.

Your £10 will be returned to you if your application is not accepted.

Source: BD Website

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Volunteering with Endurance GB 
 www.endurancegb.co.uk

Endurance GB relies almost entirely upon the support of its members as volunteers. It is governed by the Management Committee which is elected from and by the members to oversee the development of all aspects of Endurance Riding in the UK and for International Competition.

Competitive, Social and Training Rides are run by Ride Organisers. They are all volunteers and lead a team of helpers ranging from Technical Stewards and other officials, to Check Point and Gate Stewards who may or may not be members of Endurance GB.

There are 22 local Groups (Branches of Endurance GB) throughout the country, which organise Rides, Social and Training events. They all produce their own Newsletter, most have their own websites and they award trophies for local events. Every Group needs a Committee of volunteers to help plan and organise their events and to support their Ride Organisers. The Committee in turn needs the support of its members. Typical roles and responsibilities for a Group Committee include:

Chairperson
Group figurehead and main spokesperson; calls and conducts regular meetings of the Committee; works with Committee to involve members and develop activities of Group; supports and motivates other Committee and Group members to become more actively involved in Group activities; represents their Group at District events and meetings.

Public Relations Officer
Co-ordinates all media related issues including writing news stories about local rides and riders and cultivating press contacts; maintains the website; co-ordinates follow-ups of non-members competing in local rides and encourages them to join Endurance GB; co-ordinates Group Newsletter, promoting sale of Group Merchandise, etc.

Treasurer
Monitors and keeps accurate records of all financial transactions; prepares a financial summary for each Committee meeting and an annual report for audit and presentation to Endurance GB headquarters at the end of each financial year.

Secretary
Prepares agenda for meetings; takes, writes and distributes accurate minutes of all meetings; liaises with PR Officer to ensure internal and external contacts correct; liaises with Treasurer to collate information for annual report.

General Committee Members
Work as part of the team to ensure the Group runs smoothly.

Get in touch by emailing  enquiries@endurancegb.co.uk

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Volunteering with Riding for the Disabled 
www.rda.org.uk

RDA would not exist without the commitment of its volunteers. Their dedication enables people with disabilities to ride or carriage drive to benefit their health and wellbeing and to achieve their goals.

RDA Groups welcome volunteers with a wide range of skills - not just people who know horses, but those who want to be part of a very special world that brings together horses and people to such great benefit. RDA prides itself on its high standards of care, safety and training. Each volunteer is given support to meet thse standards.

RDA has more than 500 Groups across the UK and every Group needs more volunteers to develop the service. Each year 20,000 volunteers contribute 3.5 million hours of their time to help make a real and lasting difference to the lives of more than 24,000 riders and carriage drivers. Log on to the RDA website to register your interest in becoming a volunteer and to find your local Group.

To find out more about how you can help, contact info@rda.org.uk or ring 0845 658 1082

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Volunteering with British Equestrian Vaulting 
www.vaulting.org.uk

British Equestrian Vaulting, a rapidly growing sport best described as 'gymnastics on a moving horse', relies entirely upon the support of volunteers.

Vaulting is one of the best ways to introduce people to the sport of equestrianism. It helps the rider develop balance, confidence and harmony with the horse for any riding discipline, offers the skills of dance and gymnastics, while adding the chance to be involved with that wonderful animal, the horse, at an affordable price. Helpers have the added satisfaction of working as part of a team to support riders as they:

• Improve balance, strength, poise and grace
• Learn to move in harmony with the horse in a safe structured environment
• Enjoy the fun of working in a team
• Grow in confidence and self-esteem

It is not necessary for vaulters to own a horse to be able to take part, although all vaulters have the opportunity to be involved with the care of the horse, without the responsibility or expense of owning one. A monthly subscription is paid to the vaulting club and the cost of tuition and caring for the horse is shared by the group. Vaulting is an all year round sport and an indoor or outdoor arena is used for working on the horse (depending on the weather), alongside the barrel or 'practice horse'.

Vaulting requires the support of volunteers of all ages and at all levels, including supervisory roles such as Group Organiser, Child Protection Officer, Head Trainer, First Aid Officer, Instructor, Team Trainer, Chief Steward/Competition Manager, Team Supervisor; assistants including Assistant instructor/young instructor and General Event or Competition stewarding assistants and general volunteering assistance including one-off supervised helpers (refreshments, etc), Competition Judges, Parents who help only their own child and General Stewards.

Another key 'volunteer', often overlooked, is a horse suitable for vaulting training. Vaulting horses can come from all disciplines, including dressage, eventing, show-jumping and even ex-Police horses! Volunteers are required to help with the care of the horses, help with tacking up, lunge work, transport and in keeping the horses fit.

As the sport is generally a Club based sport, volunteers are required for the general duties of a Committee, eg. Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and ordinary Committee members.

More information about local groups can be found on the British Equestrian Vaulting website.

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Volunteering with the British Horse Driving Trials Association
www.horsedrivingtrials.co.uk

How do I get involved in the exciting sport of Horse Driving Trials?

Over half Driving Trials' existing 'hardcore' of regular stewards came into the sport without any prior knowledge of driving; indeed, many of them had no previous experience of horses and were drawn in by friends and family already involved!

No driving event could exist without a huge team of helpers:

• Dressage stewards and writers
• Marathon timekeepers
• Obstacle stewards
• Course crossing marshals
• Cones, arena and collecting ring stewards

All are equally important and essential to the smooth running of a competition. Some roles require more specialist knowledge than others but this expertise is not gained overnight.

The many affiliated clubs around the country are always short of helpers and offer a gentle introduction under the guidance of a more knowledgeable steward. There is nothing like experience and involvement at this level is an ideal grounding, with many clubs organising their own training stewards' sessions. In addition, the BHDTA supports regional training days.

The sport is lucky to have the benefit of some very loyal and long-standing stewards - but they are not getting any younger and it is essential that we encourage some new people to join us. Anyone interested is very welcome to come to an event and find the Supporters Tent where they will be made to feel extremely welcome and their questions ably answered.

So why not be brave and offer
your services at an event?

There is a place for all levels of experience within the 'Team' at an event and help and advice is always on hand. In order to gain that essential experience you have to take the plunge in the first place!

Get in touch by emailing: bhdta@horsedrivingtrials.co.uk

Source: P. 77, The British Horse Driving Trials Association Yearbook - 2005

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