Insights From A First-Time NEDA Volunteer

This article earned first place in the 2023 GMO Newsletter Awards for first person experience articles for GMOs with 500+ members. It appeared in the September 2022 New England Dressage Association newsletter, A Tip of the Hat.

By Maggie Beauregard

Switching disciplines 15 years into riding can be a bit intimidating. I come from the hunter/jumper world and am familiar with the way their shows are run and know what to expect, but I admit to having felt a bit lost making the transition into the dressage ring this past year.

I have been to several schooling shows and eyeing rated shows to compete at next year with Sunny, my 12-year-old Morgan gelding. Therefore, it seemed sensible to spectate at these larger shows before trying to compete in them to be better prepared. Having volunteered at horse shows in the past, I figured that if I was going to watch anyway, it would make sense to see if the show needed any help. So, I emailed NEDA to ask if they wanted assistance with their summer show. Luckily for me, they responded the next day, saying they could absolutely use my help.

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t a bit nervous when I arrived at the show grounds that morning. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a new venue where I didn’t know anybody working at the show or competing, but my nerves were quickly put to rest as all of the NEDA volunteers were extremely welcoming and very nice. I was given a quick tour and a rundown of where I would be needed throughout the day as well as introductions to the office staff, ring stewards, and even the judges.

My official title was “runner,” which involves collecting the completed test sheets from the judge and delivering them to the office for scoring. In this position, I was able to watch each horse and rider ride their test while gaining insight on the judges’ comments and how the movements are scored. Being a “dressage newbie,” I gained valuable experience on how movements should be ridden, common mistakes made, and how dressage shows operate, in general. Being ringside allowed me to connect with dressage riders of all ages—I had the chance to ask questions, thereby gaining knowledge about the hows and whys of the horse’s performance. There was the opportunity to learn more about biomechanics and how to detect small clues that indicate if a horse is tight through its back.

Currently, I am showing training level with plans to move up to first level next season, so I found it helpful to watch more seasoned riders showing at these levels. It enabled me to gauge where my horse and I are currently so that I know what we need to work on as we move up a level.

Later in the day, I watched musical freestyles for the first time and definitely want to further explore what they entail. It was fascinating
to see how the music riders selected for their horses served to showcase their horse’s gaits and personality. It was also fun to watch the higher levels, where they were performing more advanced movements such as half pass, canter pirouettes, and my favorite, the tempi changes. Watching the upper-level tests has inspired me to continue working up the levels with my own training. It was truly exhilarating to see expressive extended trots and canters and the clean lines of changes!

I had a wonderful time meeting and networking with riders, judges, and fellow volunteers. Everyone was so welcoming and encouraging and definitely served to make the dressage world less intimidating. I look forward to my future volunteer experiences with NEDA, as well as getting in the ring with Sunny.