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Every year we see the same people helping to run CESHS, WEC, and helping with
the shows. Occasionally, we are fortunate enough to get a little new blood. This has been discussed at meetings
of WEC and of CESHS, as well as among those working the events. There is a two sided excuse: "I don't
know what to do" by those who are not helping, and "I don't know who will do what" by those who are.
This page of our website will be dedicated to bridging that gap. The hope is that more people will get involved,
more ideas will be heard, more understanding will be shared, and our associations will benefit for years to come.
As this page is updated, there will be three main categories: CESHS, WEC, and ALL SHOWS. There is a lot of overlap,
so some items may be in more than one category. As you read these items, you may have questions. You may submit
them by e-mail at ceshs@msn.com. There is a list of CESHS officers and contact information available at Officers & Directors.
No contribution is too small.
No person is too big to contribute.
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CESHS
CESHS is a
non-profit association of horse shows. The shows are held on the Delmarva Peninsula, including the entire state of Delaware.
The high light of our year is our annual awards banquet. No officers or directors are paid for their services, though
the association tries to give our hardworking secretaries/treasurers a token of appreciation each year. Some of our
needs include:
Fundraising. We are non-profit, but we
also need to meet our own expenses. The Medal Finals and Horse Show is slightly profitable. We try to make the
banquet self-supporting. To keep the association running, we collect a trophy fee of $1.00 per exibitor per show, we
collect registration fees, and we do fundraising. Our two primary fundraisers are sponsors for our horse show and auction
donations for our banquet. If you would like to donate, or to help solicit donations, contact any CESHS officer for
additional information.
The association maintains a mailing list.
This is distributed to each show manager to send prize lists, and is also used for association mailings - meeting notices,
banquet invitations. Our secretary maintains the list, but it may not always be as up to date as it could be.
One reason is that the secretary has a life outside CESHS. The primary reason is that she does not get updates.
If you are receiving mailings you do not need, let her know. If you are not receiving mailings and want to, let her
know. We see several entry forms a year with incomplete or illegible addresses, or the trainer's address is the
only one on the entry forms for several riders. We can only correspond with you if we know who you are and how to contact
you.
CESHS is looking for a WEBMASTER. This is
your opportunity to contribute in a meaningful was to your association. The position is unpaid, but can be
very rewarding. Will consider full time Webmaster, assistant Webmaster, Webmaster in training.
We would like to get some fresh ideas for the website, some news and information, some new people
involved. Contact Rand Thaw at ceshs@msn.org if you are interested.
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WEC
Wicomico Equestrian Center is a self-sustaining enterprise
of Wicomico Recreation, Parks & Tourism. WEC does not receive tax dollars to operate or develop
the facility. WEC relies on volunteers, donations, rentals, and event income to support the facility. If you would like to participate in the future of Wicomico Equestrian Center, please attend the
Board meetings on the second Monday of each month, except December, at 7:15 p.m. Winter meetings are held
at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center, while April through November meetings are at the office in the main barn at Wicomico
Equestrian Center.
Mission Statement:
To foster and enhance community
interest and knowledge in equestrian activities.
One use of the facility is Open Rides.
This is an opportunity to school at a different facility, and maybe around different horses/ponies. In 2009 the Open
Rides are the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month, beginning May 5. Come out and give a hand. There will also be
opportunities for cleaning and minor maintenance, as well as to help us check for other needs to prepare for the season.
WEC owns the jumps used at its own shows and the shows which rent the facility. The jumps create
many needs - putting them on trailers after shows, putting them away at the end of the season, sorting those which need repair
or painting, completing the repairs and painting. WEC also tries to keep the inventory fresh by replacing damaged or
aging jumps and adding to the inventory. Ideas are welcome as to how to achieve these goals, plus how to decorate the
jumps. The plants borrowed for many shows are attractive, but also labor consuming. Thought was given to buying
plants - but then there are questions of maintaining them. Alternatives or supplements to the plants would be considered.
The artificial flowers are an ongoing need. A volunteer could help decide what is needed, purchase them (getting reimbursed
by WEC), help put them out, store them between shows to save wear and tear.
WEC is developing a website. This is your opportunity to contribute in a meaningful
was to WEC. Contact Ginny Morris if you could help develop content, offer ideas, contribute information, etc.
We would like to get some fresh ideas for the website, some news and information, some new people involved.
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ALL SHOWS
All of our CESHS shows
are put on to raise money - for WEC, for CESHS, for 4-H, for Hospice, or for the individual sponsoring the show. For
those shows benefiting WEC, CESHS, 4-H, and Hospice, the show manager is not paid. NOTHING! For all of the shows,
the profit margin is slim. Factoring in the expenses for a grounds, jumps, judges, ribbons, prizes, insurance, workers,
program and other items, it can cost several thousand dollars to put on a show - $7,000 to $7,500 would be a good range.
The profit, assuming a day of good weather and good entries, is less than 1/3 of that. And the risk is even greater
if the weather does not cooperate. A show could - after investing thousands of dollars and countless hours - break even
or loose money. So what can you do?
Support the local shows.
It is a lot of work to put on a show. Planning begins months in advance, heavy work several days in advance, unbelievable
work the day of the show. The best way to assure the future of the shows is to support them.
Have you considered managing a show? For yourself or a civic organization, a show can be a fundraiser and a learning
experience. We've sometimes joked that no one should be allowed to criticize show management unless they've
done it. Yes, this can be a complex task, but there are ways to get involved and learn the ropes. There is not
a CESHS show manager today who would turn away a willing helper.
There are a myriad
of jobs that go into putting on a show. There is the hiring of show personnel - judges, steward, office staff, gate
keepers, announcer, farrier, veterinarian, EMT, jump crew, etc. Show managers are always looking for names of people
to fill these positions. And once they are filled, many need some type of contract, at least an acknowledgement letter,
to confirm the retention.
Another job is the show program. There is the creation
of the schedule - review past history to see which classes are filling or not, maybe add new classes that are already High
Score eligible, or unrecognized classes to fill exhibitor needs. Then the program must be laid out, some with advertising
included. The program does not get to or from the printer on it's own. After printing, the address labels
need to be affixed, the programs sealed shut, and postage affixed (which also had to be purchased first). The program
can also be published in other ways, such as forwarding to the CESHS website. Lots of opportunities here to help out.
Ribbons and prizes must be ordered. If this is a repeat show, there are probably existing
stocks to inventory. Since ribbons are over $1 each, shows want to use that stock. The show can order just those
needed. For instance, if there are 100 classes, but 10 complete sets left, and 25 more 6th place ribbons left, the show
need only order 90 ribbons for 1st to 5th and 65 for 6th place - saving over $75 by checking the inventory. Then the
new ribbons must be integrated into the inventory and prepared for the show - put on cards or bins, however the show distributes
them. Will the prizes be given at the gate or a central location? Who will attend to that? Is there someone
available to give out the ribbons? The gatekeeper can do this, but a ribbon person can free up the gatekeeper to that
person can start preparations for the next class and keep the show moving.
All
of the CESHS shows use jumps. Jumps create a myriad of jobs. They need to be maintained if owned, or rented
if not. Courses need to be designed and set. The course designer must know the association rules to meet
the course requirements. There are also considerations of flow of the course, using the ring/footing/jumps to the
best advantage, and matching the difficulty to the exhibitors. A good place to start learning course design is by helping
set the courses. This can be labor intensive, particularly setting the standards and walls, but there are less strenuous
jobs as well - measuring the distances, putting out cups and pins, setting poles. Flowers need to be put out
(or other decorations) and every show is always looking for economical decorations. Plants are beautiful but expensive
to buy, labor intensive to borrow as they have to be move multiple times. Plastic is re-useable but not as attractive.
Many shows also use brush to decorate the jumps - it gives a natural look, encourages the horses to jump well, and is environmentally
friendly. Using brush means the need for a supply. If you have greenery you will be pruning or cutting down,
consider contacting the show manager and doing the job close to the show so the brush can be used. You can also
help put out the brush you bring, or that someone else brings. New ideas are always welcome.
Gate keeper - there's a future topic. Also, if you have questions (raised by this page
or otherwise), submit them to ceshs@msn.com and we will find the answers.
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This page will continue to develop. Check back often. Some topics for the upcoming weeks include:
- Board meeting – ideas,
input - Clean office - Open Rides -
Walkie Talkies - Banquet decorations - Silent
Auction - Pick up branches, trash - Repair jumps - Build jumps - Paint jumps -
Move jumps - Set up courses - Cut
brush - Put out brush - Buy flowers, put in boxes - New
ideas for decorating -
Move plants out/in - Design courses - Fundraising
– Uno’s, Southern States, ad book – new ideas - Count ribbons - Prize
list – proof, etc. -
Buy prizes - Ring keeper – do it, hire it, help - Jump crew – do it, hire it, help at show - Write a newsletter - Contribute
to website
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