Post by hs on Aug 27, 2012 20:14:12 GMT
My pony is out of action for the rest of the season due to an injury so I have volunteered to help out at some shows and it is a real eye opener for me. When I go to shows I am always really grateful just to be able to have the chance to enter but then I come from a background where my parents always used to tell me how lucky I was as a child.
I have in the past volunteered for fence judging for BE but it is completely different to other types of shows. Many of the professional riders used to thank us as they walked the course and say hallo and be friendly.
Volunteering is hard work I was there all day today and several competitors were rude and complaining and I was quite disgusted at how people spoke to their helpers and families. If I spoke to my parents like that when I was young I would have not been going to any more shows and my pony would have been sold!
There is nothing I can do about the weather, I did not write the rules and I can't prevent classes from being held up due to people falling off or knocking jumps down. As a volunteer I want to do everything I can do to help you enjoy your day. I know competiting can be stressful and nerve wracking and it is disappointing if the results did not go your way but please don't scowl or look down at me just because I am not competiting or because you have not won.
I think everyone who qualifies for the big championship should be required to volunteer at one show just so that they know what it is like to run or help out at a show and then people might be more appreciative of the organisers and many volunteers who are helping out and know how it feels when people are grumpy when you are trying to do your best to provide them with a good day.
Thankfully there were enough nice people who were grateful and seemed to enjoy themselves (and they were not always the ones who won either) to make it worth while.
I have in the past volunteered for fence judging for BE but it is completely different to other types of shows. Many of the professional riders used to thank us as they walked the course and say hallo and be friendly.
Volunteering is hard work I was there all day today and several competitors were rude and complaining and I was quite disgusted at how people spoke to their helpers and families. If I spoke to my parents like that when I was young I would have not been going to any more shows and my pony would have been sold!
There is nothing I can do about the weather, I did not write the rules and I can't prevent classes from being held up due to people falling off or knocking jumps down. As a volunteer I want to do everything I can do to help you enjoy your day. I know competiting can be stressful and nerve wracking and it is disappointing if the results did not go your way but please don't scowl or look down at me just because I am not competiting or because you have not won.
I think everyone who qualifies for the big championship should be required to volunteer at one show just so that they know what it is like to run or help out at a show and then people might be more appreciative of the organisers and many volunteers who are helping out and know how it feels when people are grumpy when you are trying to do your best to provide them with a good day.
Thankfully there were enough nice people who were grateful and seemed to enjoy themselves (and they were not always the ones who won either) to make it worth while.
