By Christina Harmon, USEF ‘r’ Technical Delegate
Wow! What a year it’s been already! As I am writing this, I just finished up my fourth Technical Delegate (TD) apprenticeship. So far this year, I’ve been to Texas, Kentucky (for the USEF Pony Measurement clinic), Kansas City, Kentucky again, and finally, California. It’s been an exciting journey, and I have learned so much in such a short time! I wanted to take a moment to share a few of the things I’ve learned along the way to hopefully help you have a better show experience.
1. Show managers are the bread and butter of a show!
Without them, the show simply cannot run! They are in charge of putting together all the details behind the scenes and in front of you… Everything from making the prize lists, securing venues, hiring the officials for the shows, coordinating the volunteers, setting up arenas… You name it, they do it. Thank your show managers and show secretaries. They spend hours getting ready for a show well before the show happens, and they want you to have the best show experience possible!
2. READ THE PRIZE LIST!
Then read it again. Read it a third time! The prize list is an extension of your competition rules. There is a lot of important information in the prize list for each show, and a lot of questions can be answered just by reading the prize list. Your answers to show officials, awards, where to park, stabling maps, emergency services, etc., can all be found in the prize list. It’s not just your entry form – when you sign your entry form, you are acknowledging that you have read and understand the prize list, as well.
3. Wear your number outside of the stall
You do not know how many times people forget this rule, and you can be eliminated from your class by not having your number on. This rule is important! If your horse happened to have a mishap out of the stall or in the warmup and became loose on the grounds, the stewards need to be able to identify who that horse belongs to quickly. Any time your horse is out of the stall while on the show grounds, this rule applies!
4. Be kind to and thank the volunteers
Volunteers fulfill a big need, and it’s very hard to run a show without them. Also, if you can, volunteer for a show. It’s a great experience, and I know my time volunteering in different positions has given me a greater understanding of how the shows operate and has also made me a better competitor.
5. Above all, the Technical Delegates’ role is to protect the safety of the horse and rider.
We are watching for signs of distress in the horses, both in the performance areas and also in the stabling areas. Much of our time is spent going through the stabling areas and grounds to make sure all areas are safe for horses and riders. We are walking through the stabling a couple of times a day, looking for horses that might be starting to colic or in heat stress. We monitor the warm-up and competition rings, and are on-site in case the EMT or the vet needs to be called. It’s a very active role, and we are moving a lot; I’ve learned a golf cart can be my best friend at a large show!
6. Technical Delegates love to answer questions, and we love to talk to competitors!
We want to be a resource for you before a problem arises! TDs are very proactive in trying to offset problems that may occur at a show, and we really don’t like filling out accident reports! If you see something that could cause a problem, let a TD know immediately! Have a question about your equipment or a specific rule? Please ask your TD! We love to look things up and help assist you with all of your questions and concerns.
I am looking forward to completing my final exam very soon and becoming a fully licensed, ‘R’ Technical Delegate! I’ve met some amazing people during my training this year, and I can’t wait to serve again in 2026! It’s been a very challenging program to complete, but it’s also been very rewarding!
