pardon the interruption...

Thanks to Sara's Volunteer Challenge this year, a lot of us have been getting out and about more than ever to pitch in at local shows. I've always loved volunteering at shows bc let's be real, I plain old just love horse shows and enjoy being in that atmosphere even if I'm not riding.

And actually I baked volunteerism into my overall goals this year, planning to volunteer at a show in any capacity in at least 7 of the year's 12 months. And so far I'm on track!

i first noticed this potted cactus outside a neighborhood building on a side street two winters ago. i assumed it was dying - just a few fleshy segments that looked shriveled and mushy. much to my surprise, it revived in the spring and grew like a weed!!

It's been kinda tricky keeping track of the small local stuff, like my own barn's schooling shows this past spring. I should probably create a tag here on the blog so I could at least track it that way... And maybe I still will. Bc there have been a few instances like that.

Just by memory tho, I've scribed at two dressage shows (under two different judges, so two unique perspectives that were each pretty interesting and insightful). Stewarded the warm up at another dressage show. And ran the in gate at our schooling CT. Lots of fun stuff - esp bc I know most of the riders and horses at these home events.

it pulled through this past winter similarly, and has been growing ever since - but then SHOCKED me when it sprouted all of these bud-like appendages. could it be? would it bloom??

Tracking my hours at USEA events is obviously much easier, bc of the Volunteer Dashboard. And actually, it doesn't even have to be a USEA event to be listed there. Loch Moy, for instance, uses that platform for organizing volunteers for all their events, including USDF shows and unrecognized starter trials.

and this first blossom was just so beautiful

Personally I like the iphone app for the volunteer dashboard better than the online portal bc it's easier to see past signups and hours. And so far this year, I did bit check at Plantation's USEA HT, SJ in gate at MCTA's Shawan Downs, plus jump crew at an MDHT Twilight Event and warm up steward at Loch Moy's USDF Dressage Festival. Plus will be scribing again tonight at another Twilight Event!

and now the whole thing is erupting! 

There are a few serious advantages to volunteering, as far as I can tell. First of all, just the networking alone feels really valuable. The horse world has always been a small, interconnected place. Becoming more familiar with the local trainers, organizers, judges, and pro riders is useful for a lot of reasons, and volunteering is a great way to do that.

Plus in my experience, the horse community often recognizes and rewards hard work. Obvi that's not always true - I'm sure we can all think of examples haha - but for the most part, opportunities tend to open up for those who are already poised to act on them. Meaning: those who are already out there on the scene demonstrating a willingness to be helpful and useful.

they're so cheerful looking, right?

Also, for more personal reasons, I get a lot of value from volunteering at horse shows bc it grants me the opportunity to see riders at all levels prove themselves and their horses to be just normal mortal beings who work hard but sometimes make mistakes. I've gotten to see a lot - A LOT - of really amazing and impressive and inspiring riding lately. But.... also some less smooth rides. And also some reeeally questionable rides.

Seeing really good riders make mistakes humanizes the sport a little bit for me. Seeing kinda average riders getting around higher levels gives me hope haha - makes it seem accessible. And obvi seeing some of the more questionable rides at higher levels makes me more resolute that.... yea, I want to keep doing my homework so I don't end up being that rider too (tho, ya know, it could happen haha!).

so pretty!

So long story short, I've really enjoyed getting out and about more this season. And am seriously grateful for Sara creating the motivation to do so by her awesome challenge. Remember - there are monthly random prize drawings of anyone who logged any horse show volunteer time. And at the end of each quarter, the volunteer with the most logged hours gets a prize. So be sure to get your hours in to Sara! And you don't have to be a blogger either!!

Have you been volunteering this year? Or do you have any plans to do so? Do you have similar feelings about why volunteering is fun and useful? Or maybe you've had different experiences? Like I know some of you have kinda been sucked into the vortex of becoming a beast of burden for your local organization... which like, isn't always super desirable either haha.

How have you gone about finding volunteer opportunities? Do you use the USEA volunteer dashboard if eventing is your thing? Or are there similar platforms for other disciplines? Or maybe there are facebook groups or forums that have been useful? Let me know, I'm all ears!