NEDA STEWARD INFORMATION Updated 2-20-12 Thank yu fr yur interest in becming a dressage shw vlunteer. The dressage shws arund the regin are made pssible by the genersity f peple like yu wh take the time t assist in the prductin f the event. The vlunteers are the lifebld f the shw! The Stewards missin is t be the eyes and ears f the cmpetitin and ensure that there is a level playing field fr all cmpetitrs and fair, humane treatment f the hrses. Shw stewards generally wrk under the directin f the Technical Delegate (TD), wh is hired by shw management and is respnsible fr ensuring that the cmpetitin is run accrding t the rules and regulatins f the natinal gverning bdies. Stewards are available t assist the hrse and rider cmbinatin t get t the crrect ring at the crrect time. Ultimately, it is the riders respnsibility t get themselves t the ring n time. Ring stewards will be asked t check saddlery, bits, spurs, and whip lengths. Cruelty r any signs f bld shuld always be reprted immediately t the Technical Delegate (TD). Accrding t USEF rules, there is nly ne type f steward required, that is the Ring Stewards whse jb it is t check saddlery, and inspect bits and spurs, n bth sides f the hrse, in each class at the directin f the technical delegate and in accrdance with DR121.9. Fr practical purpses, there are 3 different types f vlunteers that cme under the heading f Steward. They are : 1. Warm-Up Steward 2. Ring Steward 3. Gate Keeper Prir t the shw date: Please read and, if pssible, bring with yu; USEF Dressage Rules 120 and 121. Review this infrmatin especially if yu will be perfrming attire and equipment checks. The day f the shw: Be n time fr arrival, at least 30 minutes befre yu are due t start wrk unless yu are a warm-up steward. Warm-up Stewards are generally needed t be at their pst 30 t 45 minutes befre anyne else in rder t give the first cmpetitrs the pprtunity t warm up s if yu are a warm-up steward, yu shuld be n the grunds an hur t an hur and 15 minutes befre classes are scheduled t start. Remember the shw cannt start withut all the vlunteers in place. Check in at the steward/vlunteer table befre yur shift s the vlunteer crdinatr will knw that yu are n the grunds and can give yu the necessary materials; 1. clipbard with the rder f g (ride times, cmpetitr name and #), Dressage Rules 120 & 121, and Accident Preparedness Plan 2. pens 3. nn-latex glves 4. walkie-talkie 5. measuring stick (fr whips) 6. measuring ruler (fr bit shanks) Make sure yu bring a watch r ther timepiece that can be readjusted t the fficial shw time.
Als, remember that this event is utside and that the weather may nt be perfect all f the time. Be prepared fr extremely sunny, cl and windy, r rainy, with sun blck, warm clthing, and ftwear that will keep yur feet as dry as pssible. The grunds and rings may be a little bit muddy if there is rain. If serving as a Ring Steward, yu shuld be cnfident arund hrses and cmfrtable putting yur finger int a hrse s muth. Yu shuld be able t stand fr lng perids f time thugh a chair shuld be prvided. It is useful t bring binculars in rder t read hrses numbers frm afar. General: Yu set the tne f the cmpetitin fr the cmpetitr. We trust that yu will be friendly, efficient and prfessinal. A hrse must have a number identifying it any time it is ridden r exercised, including in-hand hrses being led t r frm the arena.. If yu see a cmpetitr withut a number, please ask them t find it and attach it. Smetimes a number will fall ff n ne side, and the judges nrmally are OK with this, as lng as they are able t identify the hrse and rider cmbinatin. If a hrse has an incrrect number, cntact the Head Steward r ne f the TDs. Usually it is in errr, but there are instances that have cnsequences. Be aware f ANY behavir anywhere n the grunds that culd be cnstrued as cruelty. The TD shuld be ntified immediately. Hrses in Reginal Champinship classes will have sme srt f special designatin n their numbers. Hrses in CDI classes may have special numbers, at NEDA they will have numbers 100 and lwer. It is against the rules fr anyne but the rider t be munted at any time in the champinship and CDI classes, s if yu see riders being changed and there is a red dt n the number, call the TD immediately and infrm them. This can als result in immediate disqualificatin. Warm-up Steward help t get them t the ring n time: Yu will have a clipbard with the rder f g; a printut with ride times, cmpetitr number, and the rider and hrse s name. Yu shuld have a cpy f the Accident Preparedness Plan (which yu shuld read befre assuming yur duties) Yu will als have a walky-talky in rder t cmmunicate with the rings stewards, the shw annuncer(s) and the shw ffice, if lking fr a hrse and rider wh has nt been seen in the warm up area. Yu ll be statined in a cnspicuus spt s riders can find yu. Safety is pririty #1 In the warm-up rings, keep a general eye n the riders. (Tack is t be checked ONLY after the ride.) Warm-up stewards may measure a whip if asked by the rider t d s. If the warm-up steward sees a whip they suspect is t lng, they can call the Head Steward t the ring. The whip can then be measured after the ride. The rules specify that whips are t be n lnger than 47.2 (120 cm) even in warm-up rings, s please be alert fr this. Check ff the hrse and rider as they arrive in warm-up and make an X when they leave t g t the cmpetitin ring. If yu d nt see a scheduled cmpetitr in warm-up, call in t the secretary t check n their status. Have they picked up their cmpetitr packet? Have they scratched? Make the apprpriate ntatin next t their name and number. If anther rider has been given that ride time, the secretary r annuncer shuld be aware f the change and let yu knw. Be sure t make nte f the number f the new rider. Prvide guidance t riders n fficial shw time, if the shw is running n time r nt, and which hrses will g befre them. Will generally have t feed hrse and riders int multiple rings s yu must be able t keep track f wh is due when and where.
Als be alert fr any ptential abuse f the hrse, such as very rugh pulling and jerking f the reins, excessive warm-up with the hrse s head and neck curled dwn and excessive schling after a ride. If yu have any questins r suspicins, call the TD. Be alert fr any changing f riders n hrses with red dts n the numbers, as this is frbidden in champinship and CDI classes. Bts and bandages may be used in warm-up. On-Deck Steward hlding area between warm-up and cmpetitin arena: Sme cmpetitins may nt have n-deck areas. It really depends n the size f the shw grunds and hw the rings are situated. Must be able t multi task t feed cmpetitrs frm warm-up areas int cmpetitin arenas. Ring Steward get them t the ring n time: Yu will have a clipbard with the rder f g; a printut with ride times, cmpetitr number, and the rider and hrse s name. Yu will als have a walky-talky in rder t cmmunicate with the warm-up steward and shw annuncers. Yu shuld have a cpy f the Accident Preparedness Plan (which yu shuld read befre assuming yur duties), Once the hrse and rider have presented themselves t the ring steward, yu shuld check them ff n yur rder f g. Please make yurself familiar with the signal which is generally a bell, whistle r hrn, fr the judge in yur ring. The cmpetitr may ask yu what t listen fr if they dn t knw already. Yur jb is t tell the annuncer when a cmpetitr has entered the ring, keep an eye ut fr the next cmpetitr, and t check the bit and spurs f the cmpetitr nce they have exited the arena. Equipment is t be checked after the ride, nt befre. When yu cmmunicate with the shw annuncer, please be brief, as there tends t be quite a bit f verbal cmmunicatin n the walky-talkies. Press the buttn and hld it dwn, and say ring 2, number 234, entering. D this as the hrse enters at A and is n the centerline, nt as they enter t walk and trt arund the ring befre the judge signals them t start. If yu dn t see the next hrse and rider, ask int the walky-talky warm-up d yu have number XYZ? There will be ther stewards whse jb it is t watch the warm-up rings, and they will be able t let the rider knw they are due in the ring. There shuld als be clcks at the warm-up rings with fficial shw time t help everyne. Yu may have hrses that just d nt shw up and yu may ask the annuncer if they have any infrmatin abut scratches, but dn t wrry if yu dn t get a respnse, as the annuncer may be busy with smething else. If there are scratches, shw management may want t put anther cmpetitr in that slt, and this infrmatin will be relayed t yu ver the walky-talky. If the rings are running ahead f schedule, riders may ride early, but they als have the ptin f waiting until their assigned time. Once the judge gives the signal the rider has 45 secnds t enter. If the rider des nt enter in this time perid they may be disqualified, but this will be a decisin made by the judge. In case f a n shw, the next rider wuld need t wait fr the 45 secnd time due t the prir rider t expire befre they enter the utside f the ring if they wish t ride early. The walky-talkies have a number f different channels, but they will be preset fr yu. If smene needs t have a lnger discussin, yu will be asked t change t anther channel. There is a small switch n the walky-talky fr this, but remember t turn back t the riginal channel when yu are dne. If yu have any questin cncerning hw t interpret the rules, speak t the Head Dressage Steward wh will speak with the Technical Delegate (TD) n the walky-talkie.
Ring Steward Equipment Check: Bits, spurs, nsebands and whip lengths are t be checked at the end f the ride. This will be dne fr all f the riders in the Champinship, CDI, and FEI classes. Fr Open classes, nly 1/3 f riders must be inspected. The general prcedure is t apprach the rider and plitely ask t check the tack. Make sure yu mve t a safe place that is ut f the way f ther cmpetitrs. Then run 2 fingers under the nseband (if t tight, cntact the TD). With a fresh glve, check the bit, the sides f the hrse, spurs, and whip. Check fr any sight f bld n the hrse (details t fllw). Always use a new glve fr each hrse. In the Natinal/Open (nn-cdi) classes, 1/3 f all riders in each class must be checked. Please review the Saddlery Inspectin guide. There will be handut sheets each day f the shw, but yu shuld review the USEF rules 120 and 121. I recmmend yu t check these rules befre traveling the shw. Secnd level tests and belw will all be dne with snaffle bridles. Third and furth level can utilize a snaffle bit, but it is kay t use the duble bridle. FEI tests at a USEF-recgnized natinal shw may be ridden in either a snaffle r duble bridle. Bits are t be smth wherever they cntact the hrse, and inside the muth. It is cmmn t see small cnnectr pieces n a snaffle bit, as there are subtle differences between legal and illegal bits please make yurself familiar with the bits shwn in the attached Dressage Rules 120 and 121. The length f the curb is nt t exceed 10 cm. This is als illustrated in the rules. If yu are unsure abut the bit, cntact the TD (r shuld it be Head Steward?). Riders may use half chaps in Intrductry thrugh First Level tests as lng as the leather is smth and the same clr as the bt. Nsebands shuld be lse enugh that yu can place tw fingers between the nseband and the hrse s head, if yu can t, call the Head Steward. It is all right t ask the rider r grm t lsen nsebands fr bit inspectin, but nly the rider r grm shuld d this. Spurs shuld be smth and pinting straight back r dwnwards, althugh yu may see swan neck spurs, which are legal (illustrated in the rules). If there are rwels, they must be blunt/smth and need t be able t spin freely Check equipment n bth sides! Als check bth sides f the hrse fr aggressive spur actin frm the rider. Yu may see where sme f the hairs f the hrse s cat have been rubbed ff, but the skin shuld be smth. If there is bld anywhere n the hrse, ask the rider t wait with yu utside f the ring and cntact the TD and ask t cme t yur ring immediately. DO NOT mentin n the radi the exact nature f the prblem. This is usually nly seen at the upper levels, if at all, but is a serius infractin and may result in disqualificatin f the rider. Whips are t be measured against a wden dwel stick that will be supplied at the shw. The whips cannt be lnger than 47.2 (120 cm). If yu find a whip that is t lng, ask fr the TD n yur walkie talkie. If the whip is ¼ t lng, it will prbably be OK, but if it is lnger it is a rules infractin that will nt be allwed. Whips are nt allwed t be used in Champinship and CDI classes, but they can be used in warm-up, as well as utside f the ring just befre entering. If they carry it int the arena as they enter at A they will be disqualified by the judge. Sme riders will drp their whips just befre they enter at A, and they will appreciate it if yu are able t pick it up fr them if they d nt have a grm assisting them.
Gate Keeper Open and Clse the Cmpetitin Arena Gate ONLY fr Reginal Champinship classes and CDI classes. Keep yur chair set abut 20 ft behind A. Immediately upn hearing the judge ring the bell, blw the whistle r hnk the hrn, pen the gate fr the next rider. Set it t the side f the entrance and stand back as pair enter the cmpetitin arena. Clse the gate after the pair has halted at X, always being as quiet and incnspicuus as pssible. Quietly step back and take a seat. Once the rider has saluted, apprach gate t pen arena. Yu d nt want t apprach the gate befre the salute as yu may scare the hrse and cause it t shy. Yu may be asked t clse the arena between riders. Shw management will let yu knw what they want yu t d. Other - Wrking a Lunging Area: Munted warmup is nt allwed in the lunging area. There have been t frequent (bth deliberate and uneducated) abuses f the lunging equipment rules. Hrses may be lunged with r withut a rider. Hwever, nly ne lunge line is permitted. Driving r lng lining is prhibited. A single direct side rein (an auxiliary rein affixed t the bit and t the girth, saddle r surcingle n the side f the hrse (NOT between the legs). A lunge line must attach nly t the snaffle bit f the bridle, halter r cavessn and g directly t the hand f the lngeur. (This has been abused, mst frequently with the lunge line ging frm the girth/surcingle THRU the bit t the hand f the lngeur, thus acting as a draw rein). A duble sliding side rein (Vienna rein) is permitted. (See USEF Rulebk r the Dressage Attire and Equipment bklet fr an illustratin. Breed Shw - In-hand warm-up ring: The male and female breed shw entries must be in separate warmup areas. (A clt fal wuld warmup in the mare area.) Be aware at all times fr safety. All hrses (including nn-cmpeting mares) 2-years ld and lder must be in bridles. There is n max/min length f whip fr handlers/assistant handlers t carry. Check wristbands t ensure that all handlers/assistant handlers/whip assistants are wearing the apprpriate wristbands. If there are handler changes at ringside, make certain that they sign the necessary frms prir t entering the warmup r cmpetitin arena. Keep yur eye n pedestrian and hrse traffic utside f the arena. Be practive in preventing accidents.