Festival of Champions "Worker Bee"

Cyberspace is wonderful! I read a post, from the Gladstone Equestrian Association, wanting volunteers for the USET Festival of Champions. Since I was going to be at the Festival gathering news for DUL, I thought, "how I could become more involved". I quickly composed an e-mail to the organizers volunteering my service wherever needed. They contacted me by both e-mail and phone. Their response was so friendly, and with overwhelming appreciation to have me come on board as one of the Festivals coveted positions, "Worker Bee".

Shortly, I received a letter from Lyn Ferrie, the Volunteer Coordinator for Gladstone. First I reviewed the Volunteer's Sign Up Form and sign the official Release agreement. A menu of choices and the days to work was provided. There were so many interesting areas to choose from: Pre-Event help, working in the Gladstone Equestrian Association office, decorating the dressage rings and in the Hospitality area as well. Now, this is where you really get to rub elbows with all the top competitors, trainers, and judges, hosting them would be quite an honor to say the least. Maybe even Royalty! (enthusiastic moment). Because this is the final selection trials for ALL USET disciplines for the World Equestrian Games in Rome, you can imagine a filled to capacity crowd. In fact, Gladstone reports that they expecting huge crowds of spectators. Since I would be arriving late on Wednesday, I decided to designate Friday as my first assignment day and checked the area as Dressage Scribe, with the hopes of being their quick pick. Scribe positions are usually the first to go, and didn't feel optimistic; thinking there must be a large number of volunteer's vying for the Scribe position. But, good news came today, I was selected as Dressage Scribe and would report for duty on Friday when the Stewart would brief me. A dream, not so small, come true, to be involved with an event such as the selection for "World Equestrian Games" I am still pinching myself! Is this what it feels like to be a kid in a candy store! You Bet! Being in the competition world for twenty years as trainer, coach, competitor, Chef d' Equipe, I’m still excited.

My second choice of involvement was Saturday on Marathon Day, to work as Vet Assistant or Scribe in the Vet box checking the pulse, temperature and respiration of the horses as they come in. I was accepted for this position as well. I will spend a week with my own vet here in Louisiana getting up to speed. I have done this many times in the past at Pony Club functions and at my own farm. But, now the efficiency here will be of the utmost importance for the safety and health of horses in hot and heavy competition. If anyone has ever evented you can appreciate the intense stress the horses experience in grueling heat and coming off the marathon course, demands quick and immediate response to assure the cooling out process is done properly.

I was very excited to receive my volunteer packet today, complete with briefings, instructions, parking pass and volunteer badge. The Gladstone Equestrian Association considers volunteers as "uncarded" or unlicensed officials with a lot of authority. The Blue Volunteer badge will allow one into other areas, such as dressage and jumping venues. A volunteer, which is through with the day, may go to another area and watch another competition.

Without volunteers competitions such as the 1998 Bayer/'USET Festival of Champions could not take place. So don't wait for them or another competition to call you. Jump right in and give it a go. You'll be glad you did. I know I am!

Looking forward to reporting more details of this experience as they unfold. And, adding this to my "Resume of Life" experiences.