Anywhere I can read up on the job description? I event so I have a clue but not THAT much of a clue, lol
Well since I’m doing the same come Saturday I can help a little.
Your primary job is to get horses into the ring in a timely fashion. Use your big outdoor voice.
If possible note the horse numbers that that are in warmup (and thank those responsible riders that check in with you).
Have the next horse to go in the ring aware and, if possible, near by. Send them to the ring as the previous horse does their final salute (this may vary a bit depending on the facility layout). Let the next riders up know they’re next (“on deck” and “in the hole”).
Keep track of the horse number in the ring and the time, you will have to answer a thousand times “is the ring running on time”
Depending on the show, you may also be notifying the announcer by radio the horse number heading to the ring.
if if you are also doing bit check, you should get instructions from your TD at the beginning of your shift on how they want you to do that.
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You’ll be the ring master make sure riders are near the arena when they need to go in and getting everybody in on schedule.
While the event should provide you with supplies, definitely bring a pencil and a clip board. Make sure you have a watch. I make a check mark when I notice a horse in the warm up and if there is a good descriptor (ie: pinto or flashy socks) I’ll note that too as it sometimes makes it quicker to identify the next rider vs waiting for their number to show. Once a rider goes in to start their warm up around the ring I call out “____ ON DECK, ____ IN THE HOLE” so riders can time their warm ups. If the rider is not standing by my side ready to go in when the pair completing their test is about to hit center line I’ll call out for the rider to come to the gate. Dressage steward is all about communication and organization. I’ve never done bit check with stewarding, that is always a separate job… but definitely should get that clarified before hand.
Trainers, riders, family and friends, everyone will come up to you to ask times on a regular basis so just keep focused and know where you are at. People will want to know if you are running behind and if so how far (so they can plan their warm ups). I love doing the dressage steward work, but it is also the one volunteer job I’ve ever done where… I found people to be a bit pushy and rude so brace yourself if the times fall a bit behind. I just try to be as friendly as possible and remind myself that when things don’t go to plan/schedule at a show they throw me through a loop too!
Remember who you meet and who their riders are… that way if you can’t find so and so to go in the ring (or they don’t hear you) you can tell their family/friend/trainer to go get them. If you’re lucky you might get volunteers that will hang out with you that can run to the warm up ring to call out the next riders numbers. If the warmup ring is close by that isn’t a problem at all, but if they are far enough away and the wind carries sometimes it gets hard for riders to hear you.
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So rules wise. If a rider is scheduled to go at 10:52 and for some reason needs a hot min but the rider after them says hey, I’ll go early…is that kosher? Obviously you don’t need to go until your appointed time but what if you miss your time or you remembered it wrong? Also, if I am truly the steward and overseeing the area, am I the one who makes a comment to the rider their spurs or, crop or bridle doesn’t meet regulations? Or is that the job of the bit checker to look at the whole presentation?
You should have a good debriefing before you are going out to do your job. Any grey areas come up; ask the TD. A job I have done many times and very fun and pretty easy. You may have to hold a whip or two. Have fun!
I would recommend skimming the rule book for those areas that might touch you. It’s nice to roll in with a solid feel on those things. Thank you for volunteering!!!
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Check with the organizer and the TD about the policy on letting riders go out-of-order. It is their call.
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Thank you for volunteering!
All the previous advice is great. When you’re calling riders, try to use their names and not just their numbers, most people won’t remember the number they were just assigned in the morning, and especially pros that are riding multiple horses surely won’t remember if they’re on 120 or 254. Everyone knows their own name. You’ll do less yelling and will get far more responses if you use their names and not just their numbers.
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Before the show clarify with TD if rider switches are ok. If they say yes then I will use the radio to inform judge & td that there will be a rider switch and ask if it is approved and if judge is ready. If judge & td says yes then send that rider on in and make notes on your paperwork so you know what happened. I don’t run into that often… but if the show is running ahead and someone wants to go in at 9:58 instead of their 10:05 ride time I just tell the judge ___ is ready early let me know when to send them in. If they go early the next person does NOT have to also go early, but can if they so wish. Nobody is required to ride before their ride time, but I find that many will want to keep things moving so just use communication with the judge/scribe.
Have fun!
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