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Volunteering with the British Showjumping
www.britishshowjumping.co.uk
Why become a BS Official?
- Join a very important and professional team
- Increase your own understanding and learn new skills
- Visit and support a variety of events, from very novice up to the highest standard
- Enjoy the competitions from 'possibly the best seat in the house'
- The opportunity to watch different types of horses and ponies develop through the various stages of their competitive life
- Meet and socialise with your fellow officials, competitors and owners
- Experience all that the show-jumping scene has to offer
Benefit from an excellent programme of training and support plus up to one year's free membership of BS (up to 31 December) whilst training to become an official. If continuing in an official capacity, membership is only £20 per annum thereafter.
Official roles requiring membership are: Course Designers (Assistant, Associate, Median & Advanced). Non members can become Writers or Collecting Ring Stewards. Full details are available in the BS publication 'How to become an Official', available from Jon Doney: jon@jddesign.fsnet.co.uk
Alternatively, if you would like to offer your voluntary support to BS but can offer less time commitment than Official roles require, individual shows are always in need of support in roles such as Arena Parties, Judges' Stewards, Runners and even Car Park Assistants!
Source: BS Handbook 'How to become an Official'
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Volunteering with British Eventing
www.britisheventing.com
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Volunteering with British Dressage
www.britishdressage.co.uk
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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 for the BHS
www.bhs.org.uk
Without the outstanding work and support from our volunteers, the BHS would not be what it is today. Needless to say our volunteers are incredibly important to us, and we are always on the look out for more exceptional people to help us achieve our mission:
"To work in a spirit of partnership, with energy, commitment and knowledge, to promote and achieve the highest standards in all areas of equestrianism."
The British Horse Society currently has in excess of 15,000 Volunteers who give their time freely and willingly to aid us in 'Working for Every Horse and Rider'.
We have volunteering opportunities across the whole spectrum of the BHS, ranging from Access to Riding Clubs, to being a Committee member or even helping out at a local event if you have the time to spare. If you want to offer some of your time, no matter how small, by helping the BHS in the work they do then please have a look at our volunteer pages; the roles on offer and get in touch Tel: 0844 848 1666
Volunteer Roles
There are numerous ways you can volunteer to help The British Horse Society, either by joining the BHS Committee in your local area, or by submitting your contact details to be held on our volunteer database to help us out at events and shows.
BHS Committee Member
From time to time we have vacancies for volunteers who would like to join a BHS committee and fulfil a specific role within that committee. Being a member of a BHS committee can be both challenging and enjoyable. The benefits you can enjoy are wide ranging and you will have the opportunity to learn new skills and put your existing experience to good use, make new friends in your local area and take part in a worthwhile activity.
Details of the roles within a BHS Committee are as follows:
Chairman
Access and Bridleways Officer
Committee Member
District Representative
Junior Member
Membership Secretary
Press Officer
Riding and Road Safety Officer
Riding Clubs
Secretary
Training Officer
Treasurer
Vice Chairman
Welfare Representative
The BHS Volunteer Database
The BHS Volunteer Database contains details of those people who would be happy to be called upon to help the BHS, should they be required. It may be that a committee is running an event in your area and would like some help with judging, car parking or some other such role. Alternatively, the BHS may ask you for help with a bridleway survey in your area or some other such matter. You may only be contacted infrequently, but it is nice for us to know that you are willing to help if needed.
For more information about being a volunteer for the BHS please see the volunteer's pages on our website at www.bhs.org.uk or go to the following link here
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Volunteering with Riding for the Disabled
www.rda.org.uk
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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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