Don’t fear to Volunteer
Published 03.05.2021
When we sign up to join Leinster Dressage (or any region of Dressage Ireland), one of the criteria is that wee volunteer to help at regional or national shows.
For those of us who volunteer regularly or who have organised and run shows, this is second nature to us and the roles are familiar but for anyone who has not done it before it may be something that they worry about doing as they do not know what to do or they do not know what role would best suit them. This piece is designed to help anyone who wants to volunteer but isn’t sure what is required or what would best suit them. The key roles are summarised below.
Volunteering is a great way to learn more about how shows are run, what goes on behind the scenes, how higher level riders warm up and how judges score competitors.
Key Roles
Call up
Key skills- good time keeping, a loud clear voice, confidence in speaking to new people. Benefits - meeting new people, observing the warm up routine of horses and riders.
The volunteer in the warm up arena has a list of competitors and their times. they tick off riders as they enter the warm up and keep the riders updated as to how many riders/minutes there are before their test. The warm up volunteer lets organisers know of any no shows and makes sure that there are not too many people in the warm up and that competitors are riding in a safe manner in line with the rules. All paperwork is pre-prepared and supplied for you as is tea/coffee and snacks from the organisers. Having a clear voice and a friendly approach is an asset to this role.
Judge’s Scribe
Key skills - legible handwriting, good organisational skills, good verbal communication, good listening skills. Benefits - Understanding what score the judges award and why, learning the importance of the FEI training scale in dressage judging, understanding the marks and comments awarded by judges, observing the test from the judges’s point of view, developing your eye for the horses way of going.
Scribing is an excellent job for anyone who enjoys watching dressage and learning more about riding dressage and how competition tests are scored. Scribes will sit in their own car in the passenger side , parked beside the judge who sits in the drivers seat so that a safe distance is maintained but each can still hear each other. The organising committee will provide lists of competitors and their times, copies of all tests and any necessary stationary.
The role of the scribe is to write down on the test sheets the scores and comments awarded by the judge for each competitor on each movement of the tests. The judge will then take the sheet and add the collective scores and final comments. The scribe or judge will pass the sheets to the sheet collector. if you have never done scribing before, starting with the lower test levels where the test is shorter and the movements come up at a less rapid pace will help to build confidence.
Sheet Collecting
Key skills - being mobile enough to move around the venue. Benefits - a great way to get those extra steps in!
Sheet collecting is exactly what it says on the tin. The sheet collector approaches the judge’s car ( from the side/behind so as not to impede their view of a rider and between tests so as not to interrupt) collects all completed sheets which they return to the scorer.
Scorer
Key skills - a mind for figures, quick ability with numbers, experience with spreadsheets is an advantage. Benefits - scoring is an inside job and very quiet and peaceful so it is well suited to someone good with numbers that likes to work in concentration.
Sheets are supplied by the sheet collectors for inputting into the scoring system and calculation of results which are produced onsite and published on line.
Tea/Coffee runner
Key skills - a friendly manner, enough mobility to move around the venue. Benefits - this is a quick and easy role that allows you to get in extra steps while interacting with others.
The tea/coffee runner approaches the judge’s car while no tests are ongoing and takes not of any drinks and snacks the judge and scribe would like, gets the order from the onsite catering and delivers to the judge and scribe. this is always a well thanked job - who doesn’t love thee bringer of snacks?
Organiser’s assistant
Key skills - adaptability and people skills. Benefits - great way to get to know people and to try a variety of roles.
Every show will have a chief organiser who will be glad of an extra pair of hands! they may need assistance with tasks such as distributing judges and scribes packs , to putting out sheets and results to making sure competitors park in the right place.
Eligibility
You do need to be a Leinster Dressage member to volunteer to help at a show.
How to volunteer
The show schedule is held online. if there is a show that would suit you to volunteer, get in touch with the region a few weeks before the show to offer your assistance.
Lorna O’Hare - Leinster Dressage Committee
31.07.2021 - Redhills Show 14th and 15th of August
23.05.2021 - Leinster Dressage Region Summer League 2021
23.05.2021 - Traditional Irish Horse Award
16.05.2021 - Leinster Dressage presents Botanica’s Dressage in the City - June Bank Holiday, NSC
03.05.2021 - Don’t fear to Volunteer
24.04.2021 - Rider Physio Online Course
22.11.2020 - Regional Championship Final Update
05.09.2020 - Regional Championship Final December 2020
21.07.2020 - Entries now Open for ’Dressage in the City’
19.07.2020 - Leinster Dressage Presents ’Dressage in the City’ 1st August- 3rd August 2020
29.06.2020 - Return to Shows - Covid-19 regulations to observe
18.02.2019 - Leinster Dressage 2018 Members’ League - who’s in the running?
02.02.2019 - Cancelled - Leinster Dressage Show Sunday 3rd February
24.01.2019 - Leinster Dressage AGM
21.08.2018 - Final Summer Season Show, 2nd September, Killossery Lodge Stud
16.04.2018 - Leinster Dressage 2018 Summer League
18.03.2018 - Leinster Dressage League update
07.03.2018 - Leinster Dressage Show 18th March
01.03.2018 - Post AGM Update and Committee for 2018
28.02.2018 - Winter 2017/ Spring 2018 League Update
14.02.2018 - Leinster Dressage are seeking suppliers for League Prizes
13.02.2018 - Closing date for Leinster Dressage Shows is changing
13.02.2018 - Leinster Dressage Members League 2017
25.01.2018 - 2017/18 Leinster Region Leagues
10.11.2017 - Leinster Dressage host Masterclass with Judy Reynolds
20.10.2017 - Leinster Dressage JAG show on 21st October has been postponed
05.10.2017 - Leinster Dressage Winter/Spring Schedule 2017/18
22.08.2017 - Leinster Dressage Summer League table has been updated
22.08.2017 - Killossery Show 27th August 2017
25.07.2017 - Entries are closed for 30th July
24.07.2017 - Reminder: Closing time for Killosery Show
14.07.2017 - Redhill Show Change of Date
14.07.2017 - Leinster Show Sunday 30th July
23.06.2017 - Jane Whitaker has resigned from the committee of Leinster Dressage
18.05.2017 - Welcome
06.01.2017 - Leinster Dressage AGM
05.07.2016 - Leinster Dressage Show Coil Og 17th July
18.06.2016 - BD List 1 Judge at Coil Óg Dressage Show on the 26th of June
10.11.2015 - Leinster Dressage AGM
29.10.2015 - Leinster Region AGM 2015
14.08.2015 - Guide to Show Safety
18.07.2015 - Sponsorship of Classes Coil Óg Show
18.07.2015 - Northern Ireland Friendly International
06.07.2015 - Under 23s Inter Regional Team Competition at Leinster Dressage Show in Coil Og
22.06.2015 - Important notice re: Leinster Dressage show in Coil Óg, Sunday 28th June
01.05.2015 - Leinster Dressage Show 17th May, Coil Og
06.02.2015 - Coil Og 7th February
20.01.2015 - Stabling for Coil Óg Shows
13.12.2014 - Leinster Dressage 2015 Winter Schedule
08.11.2014 - Leinster Dressage 2014 AGM Notice
17.09.2014 - Leinster Dressage Show 19th October
04.09.2014 - Leinster Dressage Additional Show Date
05.08.2014 - Freestyle to music class at Leinster Dressage, 24th August, Killossery Lodge Stud
15.07.2014 - Coil Óg Show
01.07.2014 - Coil Óg July 20th
18.01.2014 - Leinster Region 2014 Winter Shows
06.11.2013 - Leinster Dressage AGM
15.05.2013 - List 1 Judge at Leinster Dressage Show on 16th June
05.03.2013 - Leinster Dressage Show 17th March
12.02.2013 - Leinster Dressage re-scheduled show date
15.01.2013 - Leinster Dressage Winter Schedule
15.01.2013 - Leinster Dressage Winter Schedule
02.01.2013 - Leinster Dressage Winter Schedule
13.11.2012 - Leinster Region AGM on 22nd of November Coolquay Lodge
23.07.2012 - Leinster Dressage Entries for Shows on 5th August and 22nd September
07.03.2012 - Dates for your Diary
22.02.2012 - Dressage Ireland AGM
30.07.2009 - EXTRA SHOW - Cancelled
13.07.2009 - Sponsorship for Summer Leagues
23.06.2009 - Sponsorship for Summer Leagues
04.06.2009 - The Ollie Byrne Trust Fund
13.04.2009 - Just For Fun Freestyle to Music Show - Saturday 9 May 2009
13.04.2009 - Leinster Dressage Winter Season Prize Giving and Social Night
20.02.2009 - Advertising in the Dressage Ireland Summer Schedule
20.01.2009 - Sponsorship
08.01.2009 - Under 12s class at Leinster Dressage Shows
05.01.2009 - National Winter Finals 2009 - Volunteers Needed
23.12.2008 - Leinster Dressage Winter Schedule Amendments
18.11.2008 - AGM
09.09.2008 - New Secretary
08.07.2008 - Under 21 Championship at the National Championships 2008 - Clarification
04.07.2008 - Dressage Ireland National Championships 26 to 28 September 2008 - Programme
03.07.2008 - Myerscough Home International July
29.05.2008 - Potential Irish Sport Horse - Leinster Region Qualifier
03.05.2008 - Watch Top Class German Dressage On-Line - The Medien Cup
19.02.2008 - Rescheduling of Postponed Preliminary Classes
21.01.2008 - Show Cancellation
08.11.2007 - Winter Schedule 2008
08.11.2007 - AGM