A day of volunteering

The day was hot, but perfect.

I volunteer frequently in our local eventing community. Odd maybe, because I compete pure dressage but somehow always end up volunteering at events.

The opportunity to be a fence judge at the American Eventing Championships popped up, and since I already had a rare Saturday off thanks to my birthday (I'm 40 WHOA), I went for it.

Saturday was all about the BN horses and riders. I was stationed at the last fence on course and while it was a long, hot day, I enjoyed watching a wide variety of horses and riders gallop, sing, rap, laugh, cluck, stumble and be cheered on through the finish.

I LOVED the wide variety of horses and ponies that ran around the KHP that day. From small ponies, to Appaloosas, to big draft crosses. It was really neat!

One of the most heartbreaking things I saw was a handful of riders who jumped the last jump, but WALKED and in one case even got off her horse BEFORE crossing the finish flags. That's a TE, and I cannot imagine the suck that goes along with getting that news. One gal cantered right past the second to last fence. Otherwise we didn't see much drama other than one refusal.

Except. I witnessed some gob-smacking unprofessional behavior from one of the other volunteers at the finish line. There was some shouting between her and a junior rider. Now, the rider was slightly in the wrong. She was loitering a little too close to the finish line (off her horse), but was on her way walking back to the barn. The volunteer shrieked at her and I didn't hear what the rider said but then someone (I could not tell if it was rider or volunteer) screamed "THE FINISH LINE IS RIGHT HERE BITCH!"

The rider started flailing her arms around so much that she lost hold of her horse and he nearly got loose.

Finish flags by that black car

Then the volunteer started demanding the rider tell her her number and the rider threw her the middle finger. At this point I laughing at this display of ridiculous behavior. I mean, thanks for the drama to break up my day you idiots.

That particular volunteer also made several condescending comments to me over the day, so I wasn't at all surprised she blew up when someone challenged the power she seemed to think she had. haha. Pro tip: be nice to your volunteers. Don't treat them like idiots.

It was a huge championship event with more than 900 pairs I believe! Saw some darn good riding and I think the eventing bug bit me a little bit .... hmmm.


Also, my favorite horse name of the day: My Box of Crayons.