The most important number to come out of the CDCTA Spring Horse Trials this year is 59. It took 59 volunteers to run our horse trials. All these volunteers had different levels of involvement. Many showed up on the day, picked up poles in show jumping or sat at a cross-country fence. Many others did their work behind the scenes and over many days, organizing entries or putting together our digital program. The successful running of a horse trials all rests on the shoulders of the people who show up. I’m always honored and humbled whenever I think about how many people come together to make our events run. I oftentimes get the congratulations, but I never feel as I’m the one who deserves it the most.
Another important number is 10. For 10 years Scott Nelson and his family have granted us the privilege of using his beautiful farm for the running of our horse trials. We cannot offer enough thanks because they have so generously allowed us to use their farm. We have made many changes over the years after listening to competitor feedback. The most recent one is the change in our show jumping and dressage locations. We swapped their places last fall and competitors, judges, and volunteers alike were pleased with how the new layout ran. We still might do some tweaking of dressage ring placement as we feel out the new area but I’m very pleased with the current locations.
Our next number isn't approximate, but it is in the range of one thousand. That's how many emails our secretary Stephanie Traylor received and responded to over the course of taking entries for our horse trials. Stephanie has the hardest job of the horse trials and one I do not envy, but she does it with grace and a smile on her face. So next time you enter an event please give some extra love to the secretary. Their job is harder and more time-consuming than it appears on the surface.
Even with all the numbers I’ve given we are still looking for a few more. We are looking for a new volunteer coordinator for both dressage and for cross-country. These are bigger jobs that require both work before the event and being present the weekend of the event. Please contact anyone on the organizing committee if you’re interested in being a bigger part of the horse trials and helping us run this fabulous event.
Thank you to all the volunteers, the landowners, and the competitors for making our spring horse trials another success. I will see you all in the fall!
Karen Conk
Organizer
Additional Numbers
-105 horses and riders started the dressage
-28 thoroughbreds competed for TIP awards
-Over 70 lunches were made and passed out for volunteers and officials
-2 horseshoes were turned into the secretary’s stand after being found on cross country
-10 divisions
-9 sponsors
-2 bottles of wine drunk at the competitor’s reception on Saturday
-1 trailer stuck in the mud coming into parking (and was pulled out safely)
Check out the beautiful photos from SDH Photography here:
Spring Horse Trial Photos