Irish Horse: a little thanks goes a long way

As a child growing up with horses, I spent many a day at a show or pony club rally.

My mother imparted two pieces of wisdom to me very early on: number one, keep your mouth shut until you are in the lorry on the way home, and number two, always say thank you. Both have served me well over the years.

At the very heart of the horse world, many unsung heroes give generously of their time and effort so that competitions and training days can go ahead. Volunteers are the glue that holds any show day together, and they typically include ring stewards, fence judges, and dressage scribes, as well as those who are willing and able to turn their hand to anything else that needs to be done.

After all, not many of us would freely give up a whole day for no pay and with a side of being insulted or spoken down to. A smile and a thank you can go a long way

The volunteer role tends to go largely unpaid, save for a sandwich at lunchtime.

I have witnessed volunteers being treated appallingly by competitors in the past. Although the majority of riders are courteous, it is the rude remark that will remain in the mind of the insulted party long after the competition has ended.

If we want equestrian sport to continue to thrive, then we must be careful with our conduct and not ever be the reason why a person might shy away from volunteering the next time.

After all, not many of us would freely give up a whole day for no pay and with a side of being insulted or spoken down to. A smile and a thank you can go a long way.

Unique challenges

Event photographers face unique challenges in their efforts to capture our special moments. They generally start their day at a show very early in the morning, and often blend so seamlessly into the background to avoid startling any horses that people tend to forget they are there.

If classes run too close together, the humble photographer may not find time to grab a quick coffee at any point throughout the day. They must sit quietly in all weather conditions and, even if they are the officially named photographer on the day, they are not immune from other photographers also arriving to capture images. A coffee, a smile and a little gratitude can make a tired, cold and hungry photographer’s day.

In life and in the horse world, it is always the small gestures of appreciation that mean the most.