By Brandy Von Holten
Brandy is a ranch owner, horsewoman, instructor, competitor, judge, equestrian event host, a wedding host, a black belt in martial arts as well as a former biology teacher ranging from college to middle school for 11 years. She is driven, ambitious and confident. She is a gifted activity magnet; people simply are drawn to her and want to be apart of anything she has going on. If they aren't there, they're wishing they were.
Those are words of a person who has never hosted an equine event. Hosting equine competitions will put you, judges, and volunteers to the verge of exhaustion and deep into a mental fog. But you are going love it!
When my husband, David Von Holten, and I dove head first into building an equine facility, we knew it would take us an estimated five years to be able to draw enough trail riders to not have to rely upon income from hosting events. In 2016, we have hosted nearly 70 different events ranging from confidence clinics, world champion instructed clinics, mule clinics, state championships, trail challenges, poker rides, barrel races, and cowboy mounted shooting. You name it and we are hosting it! Here are a few of our pointers to help you get started or to improve your events.
Get quality judges! Help your judges better themselves. Offer free judges clinics during the off season. Some organizations offer different levels for your judges to achieve. You need to also become a judge. I have had judges not show up, get injured, or sometimes it is just hard to find quality judges. Have your own back by getting certified. During the competition you need to provide food, drinks, lodging, and some form of monetary compensation for their expenses. As your events grow, pay your judges. They are giving up a day and putting their necks out there for you. If they make mistakes, correct the problem, but always take up for your judge. Remember that they are helping you! After the competition, ask them how to improve.
Paperwork, paperwork,
paperwork! This is the absolute worst part about hosting. Print everything out that you possibly can as soon as you can. Printers will fail you, you will run out of ink and paper, and the