Volunteering
Volunteer Policy
Our dressage shows would not be possible without the help of our wonderful volunteers!
Volunteer hours:
Each hour worked will be credited 1 hour of volunteer time
Each half hour worked will be rounded up to next hour (Ex: 1 ½ hour=2 hours)
Anyone can volunteer, and those hours can be donated to a member as credit for a year end award.
For a member to qualify for a year end award:
8 hours of volunteer time.
4 of those hours must be done by the rider. The other 4 can be rider or family/friend. Only hours completed by the member count toward the year end scholarships and volunteer of the year award.
​Leadline kids are the only exception. Leadline kids do not need to do volunteer hours.
For a member to qualify for training scholarship drawing:
24 hours of volunteer time by member only
Volunteer time can be obtained by volunteering at a show, being a board member, being a committee member, volunteering at clinics, or other sponsored IEO events.
Ring Set Up
This happens the evening prior to the show, at the grounds of the show. Volunteers should be prepared to lift and carry the boards, blocks, and letters of our Dressage ring. Set up can take approximately 2 hours and will occur in all weather. For shows when Leadline is offered, the set up of the Leadline Mini Ring will also take place.
Secretary Stand Set Up
This volunteer position usually occurs the evening before the show and is responsible for the proper set up of our secretary stand for the team working it during the show. Ensuring the power is working, calculators are working, ribbons are full, PA system is working, everything needed for the judge's booth is ready to go, etc.
Scorer
Those who volunteer to score tests are responsible for adding up the marks on completed tests and verifying the correct score for our competitors. Calculators are provided.
Runner
Runners are responsible for bringing completed test from the judge's stand back to the show office for the scorers.
Ring Steward
Our Ring Steward volunteers need to be able to stay on top of the order-of-go, work with the show manager and Warm-Up Gate for any changes or adjustments that need to be made on the fly to accommodate a continuous flow of competitors into the main ring. This role is crucial to the show running on time.
Ring Tear Down
This happens the evening of the show, directly after to the show has ended. Volunteers should be prepared to lift and carry the boards, blocks, and letters of our Dressage ring. Tear down can take approximately 1-2 hours and will occur in all weather. For shows when Leadline is offered, tear down of the Leadline Mini Ring will also take place.
Gate
Our warm-up gate volunteers need to be able to stay on top of the order-of-go, work with the show manager and ring steward for any changes or adjustments that need to be made on the fly to accommodate a continuous flow of competitors up to the main ring. Warm-up gate volunteers are also responsible for checking in with anyone in the warm-up ring regarding proper attire and legal equipment.
Announcer
Announcers are responsible for announcing riders as they enter the main ring and at the completion of their test, as well as the official show time and who is on deck and who is in the hole.
Scribe
The scribe is responsible for writing down the judge's comments and scores for each movement during a dressage test. The ability to write quickly and for an extended period of time is required. This may also become a typing position with the move to digital scoring.
Secretary Stand Tear Down
This role is responsible for packing up the secretary stand at the completion of the show. It occurs directly after the show is completed and requires all IEO owned equipment to back properly packed away in the trailer and that the secretary receives all of the necessary documents to post the results from the show.