January 2007

Dear VHT & NAJYRC Volunteers,

Well, 2006 was definitely an amazing year!? Both the Spring and Fall Virginia Horse Trials as well as the North American Junior Young Rider's Championships were once again a total success thanks to ALL of YOU!

We have turned into a well oiled machine and I am so proud to be a part of it.? I am constantly bombarded by compliments and admiration at how smoothly things run and how well all the volunteers work together, I certainly get to take the credit for all of your hard work.? Thank you ALL very much, once again.

Volunteer News:

Our own internet pages!?

I am very excited to announce that the Virginia Horse Trials website is being completely redone and it will include a whole section just for us!? This will be a great opportunity to share information and post notices, time schedules, post job descriptions, volunteer opportunities as well as the volunteer newsletter.? We will also have volunteer enrollment forms for any new volunteers who want to help.? Please keep an eye out for that and visit the site often.? www.vahorsetrials.com

Penny & Brian Ross- Real Commitment to our Sport

Most of you know Penny and Brian, they are the Virginia Horse Trials.? I have never known anyone more dedicated to the promotion of our sport than Penny and Brian.? Aside from running the most amazing events I have ever had the pleasure to attend or compete at,? Brian, as most of you know is an International and Olympic level judge. This prestige does not stop him from getting on a tractor and mowing grass for the small hunter pace we hold each year at our farm, or get dirty fixing or building a new and exciting jump.? Penny serves on many organizing committees at the national level and aside from all her responsibilites with the VHT's as well as NAJYRC, she also organizes many small schooling shows and hunter paces at local barns in the area.? The goal of these schooling shows is to promote and support the local barns and encourage landowners and dedicated horse people to develop their land into beautiful equine facilities and conserve our open farmland.?

I urge all of you to take advantage of? these wonderful schooling shows and hunter pace opportunities, and come out and spend some time with all of us.? Check out all the dates, information and entry forms on the all new VHT website as well!!

Your Input is needed

I would like to start a regular "column" or more like an information and comments page where I can answer or find experts to answer any questions you might have about volunteering, showing, people or just horses in general.? I will post all comments, questions and answers on our web pages so please feel free to email me with any questions or comments you might have.? I would really like to make full use of our new web pages and use them interactively and to their full potential, so let the comments or questions begin!

Special Thanks!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank a few very special people who help out without question and I can always count on,

Sarah Berhalter is my right hand person. Sarah tends to do all her work behind the scenes and I don't think she gets the credit she deserves. Without her I don't think I could be the volunteer coordinator, she not only fills in doing any job that needs to be done but also does the jobs no one else wants to do and she helps cover our barn so I can spend all my time at the Horse Center or doing VHT stuff.

Jeff Nuckols, my wonderful husband who mans the barn at home so both Sarah and I can work the Virginia Horse Trials, he also helps paint jumps, repair jumps and helps with all the heavy lifting, he is my hero!

Vicki Kruse, my aunt and her (and my) dear friend Joyce Harvey, these two could be considered true friends of the Virginia Horse Trials.? Joyce drives down from Chicago and they both spend the entire week of the VHT or NAYRC at my beck and call, doing anything and everything.?

To these people and all of you, very very special thanks, your dedication and hard work is what makes my job a joy.

2007 - A bright new year!

I am looking forward to another wonderful year of fabulous events, gorgeous horses and working with the best volunteer team ever!

All the dates for the upcoming events are being put up on the website, so check those out and reserve the dates to help out!

I will see you ALL soon!!!