Newmarket Horseboarding Club

The sport wouldn’t run without these incredible people! Would you like to get involved? If you think you might be interested get in contact with us or Horseboarding UK..

Currently it takes the co-ordination of 19 people to run and film a Horseboarding UK competition.
19 people who give up their free time to be part of a fun and exciting sport with a supportive community. Together they travel the country visiting some amazing locations and entertaining the public.
Some roles are more obvious that others but all are crucial to the smooth running of the event. They are the oil in the machine that makes it possible for the competitors to race.

If you are interested in taking on one of these roles and you have not volunteered before please visit
https://www.horseboardinguk.org/ and fill in the volunteer registration form.

Volunteer roles
Training will be given for all roles but people with experience are preferred.

COMMENTARY BOX - Team Leader Daniel Fowler-Prime
Race Director – Pip Betts
Second commentator required.
Working in a high paced and often chaotic environment of the combox. Working together with the combox team to manage and report on the action of the heat. You may also be required for podcasts and interviews with the teams.
SKILLSET
An ability to say what you see with fluency and excitement. Experience or a background in commentary, horseboarding and/or riding. Remain calm in a fast paced highly charged environment
TIME REQUIRED
Pre heat and post heat for interviews and podcasts. During arena time and being available before and after the heat times in the commentary box for preparation and debrief.

PRODUCTION TEAM - Team Leaders
Daniel Fowler-Prime - Director
Daniel Overton -Photography
Joanne Hollis - Live Editor

Roles – 2 camera personnel.
1 on the top of the commentary box (agility required due to ladder access and tolerant of working at height)
2 on the ground in the arena
If you have done these roles before with us and you are available to do them again, please let us know.
SKILLSET
Willingness to learn, carrying and setting up cameras on tripods, using radios to co-ordinate with the editor. Following the action through the viewfinder to keep up with the team racing in the arena.
Role – Assistant Live Editor
To work inside the Brewco truck running the camera switcher during the competition and possibly podcast.

ARENA CREW – Team Leaders/ Head Referee – Dale Williams/Leila Graves
Volunteers required.
4 Arena Marshalls for ground crew
Duties
Help place arena cones and poles under direction to set up and maintain the racecourse.
Monitor the arena during the heats and pack the arena down after the heat.
This includes carrying poles and cones, setting out the gates by placing the balls on to the poles in the cones and rebuilding these after being knocked down.
Assist board riders and horse riders in the event of a fall
SKILL SET
Teamwork, situational awareness, ability to run
TIME REQUIRED
20 minutes prior to the heat for set up, During the heat to marshal inside the arena. 15 minutes to move the course for the next act twice a day.
BENEFITS
To be inside the arena instead of in the crowd, free access to the showground as an HBUK volunteer avoiding the gate entrance fee, free camping in the HBUK Camp.

PIT CREW -Team Leader and Pit Manager - Lisa Burton
Volunteers required.
3 gate marshals for pit ground crew

1 - START GATE (Lottie Caig?) – Listening to the commentary for instructions and observing Arena Head Ref for visual instruction to open the gate for the start of the race/ close it to hold the races. In the event of Dale/Leila are occupied, take instruction from the Pit manager and commentary. Observe and instruct spectator/public safety.

2 – RUN OFF CHUTE/FIRST GATE INTO PITS – Being observant of the race, ensuring riders finishing the race are approaching at the correct speed. Opening the gate in a timely manner to an approaching unridden horse and verbally instructing it to ‘Whoa’ as it enters the holding pen, closing the bunting to contain the horse. Take instruction from the Pit manager and commentary. Observe and instruct spectator/public safety

3 – INNER PIT GATE – ensure that a ridden horse stops at this gate by all four feet before opening the gate. Being aware of and instructing horse riders and boarders in the pit of an approaching horse. Accepting and catching an unridden horse trotting into the ‘run off chute’ and catching that horse. (Help will arrive as soon as the situation develops}. Keeping the gate closed and holding your nerve when being told by an excited rider high on adrenaline to open the gate when their horse is still on its Tippie Toes and it is clear it is not yet safe to do so. Observe and instruct spectator/public safety

GATE MARSHAL SKILL SET
Teamwork, situational awareness, ability to be quickly mobile in an emergency, confident with catching (gate 3) and being around horses. Able to take instruction in emergency situations to de-escalate hazardous situations. Always maintain professionalism.

TIME REQUIRED
20 minutes prior to the heat for set up of pits, During the heat to marshal gates that must not be left unattended at any time while horses are in the arena. 10 minutes to pack down the pits after the horses leave.
BENEFITS
To be inside the arena instead of in the crowd, free access to the showground as an HBUK volunteer avoiding the gate entrance fee, free camping in the HBUK Camp.

The pit manager is responsible for the management of horses, riders, boarders, grooms and all volunteers in the pits, while keeping all team members, volunteers and the surrounding public safe. All team leaders always act for and work within HBUK Public Liability Insurance requirements as well as continuous awareness of Health and Safety. The Pits is a fast-paced running element of the show that needs to speed up or slowed down depending on calls from the commentary box.