No matter what discipline, every organizer agonizes over how to attract and retain their volunteers. Without volunteers, no event is possible.
{{{And, if you've never volunteered before, please dear god, do not complain about how a show is run or even, make suggestions on how to make it better for the participants. And just once in your life, show up the day before an Event and ask them if they need a hand. Trust me, you'll never complain again.}}}
Course Brook Horse Trials was Newbie Event Rider's first (and hopefully not last) volunteer stint. "Come on, it is so much fun", I told her! It was 47 degrees and raining. Despite wearing a rain coat, hat, three layers of fleece, ski pants and waterproof insulated boots, I left my post jump judging at Course Brook Horse Trials shivering, soaking wet, and chilled to the bone.
You know the kind of chill where it takes another 5 hours of deep therapy - hot shower, dry clothes, hot food, hot steaming tea and two very warm pooches to finally warm up. I can only imagine Newbie Event Rider's excitement at volunteering the next time (maybe a plague of locus?).
{{{Pretty sure I could have used deep therapy for other reasons, like understanding why I spent 6 hours outside in the rain watching folks leaping over jumps.}}}
How do you attract and retain volunteers?
Well, Course Brook Farm provided each volunteer with a lovely gift bag, a nice lunch and, when we thought we were going to die from hyperthermia (yes, Newbie Event Rider, I will use this word again and again), they delivered hot chocolate and coffee out to our fence.
{{{Angels arriving in a gator... best sight ever!}}}
What else? Did I mention that we were cold, wet and suffering from hyperthermia (that word again)?
Hmmm, how about a Fence Judge's Drinking Game? Ok... what would that look like? So we set out with a simple Jump Judge's Chug-a-lug. At your jump only (or it could be a very short game):
- One shot for every "Good Boy/Girl" (and please hope that the Beginner Novice Division is small)
- One shot for every long spot (really hope that the Prelim folks are not contenders)
- Two shots every time a rider makes a fence judge gasp (could be any fence judge)
- Chug-a-lug for every "Good Boy/Girl" after just having done a flyer at your jump
For those of you who have never fence judged, this might seem to be a light weight game... Right! Don't actually try this, the day could be awfully short and the EMTs might be carrying you out!
{{{Shhhh, I'm actually not a drinker but it was fun to figure out a game where, if played, a person could last the day... all depends on the BN Good Girl/Boy levels.}}}
If you asked me what I missed most about riding, I may have said something like, "I miss the connection between her body and my hands." Or maybe, "The rhythm and power of her trot." And all sorts of riding stuff...
