Challenges including finding a new show secretary (all hail Bettina Longaker), securing sponsors and donors, finding a 3rd judge at the last minute because of the overwhelming number of entries (Nancy Lowey to the rescue), specifics of the show program, etc., all fall on the shoulders of many volunteers and a show committee. Feelings get hurt and egos get bruised in the process, but in the end, we are all always proud of what we are able to accomplish. This year, so many of our members stepped up to the plate to make this show the best one ever, despite the torrential rains that were brought in by Tropical Storm Gordon.
And then came Sunday… It turned out that the weatherman was oddly correct. It rained for nearly the entire day and created less than stellar riding conditions. There were plenty of scratches, but show management was able to shift rings around because of sloppy footing conditions and keep everyone that wanted to ride happy and safe. Once again, our volunteers stepped up to the plate to take down and pack everything away in the wet and miserable weather at the conclusion of Sunday’s event.
Next time you are at a horse show, please remember that the events are produced by volunteers and please thank them! If it were not for the volunteers, our club members, and our very important sponsors, horse shows wouldn’t exist. In the future, if you are approached by a member of a horse show management team to donate money for a class, place an ad, or volunteer… please participate! A lot goes a long way to keep our sport afloat – even without the wrath of a tropical storm.
Lorraine Klepacz is the Business Developer and a blogger for Top Line Media Team. She is a USDF Bronze Medal recipient, USDF L Graduate, and OHSA judge who has studied under Jimmy Wofford, Mike Mendel, Stephen Bradley, Peter Foley, Joe Fargis, Bianca Birktold, Kathy Whitehouse, Pati Pierucci and many other professionals and Olympic equestrians. Early in her riding career she was on the hunter jumper circuits, loved the jumper ring, but most notably excelled in Eventing up to the Intermediate level. Most recently you can find her in the dressage ring or out foxhunting. In addition to her work with TLMT, Lorraine is a trainer who teaches practical and safe horsemanship to her clients and their horses.