Volunteer Agenda 2024

Good Morning!

If you have not looked at your job, please do so at this link http://newpromisefarms.com/?page_id=4605

If you have not reserved your camping spot, please do so at this link http://purecountrycampground.com/campsites.aspx

The campground is under new management so we have less options than we did in prior years.  The kitchen is no longer available to campers, it has been converted into a restaurant.  The restaurant will be closed during the ride event.  I have one cabin for the vets and one cabin for a couple volunteers.  Those cabins are full, so if you need camping arrangements and do not have a camper, please reach out to me and we’ll do the best we can to find you accomodations.

Now, onto the fun information;

Jobs are pretty easy, but it is a long day starting at 6:00 am (both rides Saturday and Sunday) Some jobs will require some on-the-spot training  and some jobs will be grunt or gopher work.  Please review the volunteer page to see what jobs are currently available and let me know which day(s) and which job(s) you’d like to have.

The hold volunteers are VERY important.  Holding horses, being a trot out runner, helping to sponge and cool off, bringing a snack or lunch, may seem trivial but it is not.  It is so vital to the horse’s overall well being that the rider stay strong.  The rider’s may be preoccupied and not overly appreciative at the time, but trust me when I say that every hand helping is like a god to the rider.

Those of you out on trail, it’s a long day.  We will rotate you as much as possible, assuming I get enough volunteers to do so.  Make sure your cell phones are charged before going out as you will be texted with pulled rider numbers so you will know that they are not coming through again. I will put you out with a friend so you aren’t lonely, but bring a chair, book, drinks, snacks and a sense of humor (especially if it’s raining).  I will have someone run a lunch out to you or if you have your car and need a break,  one of you can certainly come in for some food and conversation.

To all of you, I am so glad  you are helping me make these rides happen for ECTRA ans AERC.  It’s difficult to have so few volunteers and I feel like I’m asking each of you a lot, and I want you to know ” I LOVE YOU”

Please, bring questions, concerns, comments, hugs (yes, I will take any and all hugs!!!) during the day on Saturday and Sunday.  You are the riders’ slaves and I am your slave.

RIDE ITINERARY updated 05-14-2024

Friday afternoon:

We will begin check-in at noon for both rides.  Vetting will begin at 3:00 pm.  If you are coming in on Friday and would like to help out, we will have a couple things to do.  No worries!  You will not be bored.  Friday evening dinner is a Share-A-Dish.

Saturday Morning:

The CTR riders will have vetting from 5:30 am (first light) until 7:00am … then we will have a brief ride meeting before the first riders or drivers go out.

Saturday Afternoon:

This day will be very very busy for all the volunteers.  The CTR will be running so vets, scribes, P/R and In-Hold helpers will be rushing around doing CTR riders as well as vetting in the endurance riders who will be arriving all day.  Any and all assistance on Saturday will be greatly appreciated.  I do need one volunteer available to help with feeding the CTR volunteers lunch.  I will have sandwiches, chips and soda or water for them.

10:00 am until dark is check-in.  Our check-in personnel will be stationed at the pavilion with the necessary paperwork to get riders through quickly.

12:00 pm until dark we will have someone running on wheelbarrow duty in the ring and the surrounding areas of the pavilion/campground club house.

2:00 pm until dark is vetting, if you are a scribe, please be here to help your vet!

VOLUNTEERS, you should have a meal ticket from me to eat dinner.  The restaurant will be catering lasagna, salad and garlic bread.

Sunday:

Ride starts at 5:30 am.  On trail spotters need to leave for their spot by 5:45 am so as not to run over the riders and ruin their day.

Scribes should be ready to go with their vets, and in hold helpers be ready, around 7:30 am.  First riders could be coming between 7:30 am and 8:00 am

Around noon we will need the Top 10 weighing, Card Scanning, and Paperwork teams to step up and get ready.

Also around noon food will be available.  You should have a meal ticket from me.  When you go to eat, please be sure to have someone covering your job while you eat.  Find me, or ask someone close by.

Pretty simple this year.  I hope we all have a ton of fun helping the riders to have their fun!!!