Burgham International Horse Trials – Volunteers Information

Burgham, Northumberland’s premier equestrian event, could not run without the generous help and time given by our fantastic volunteers. Through their support it has been possible to improve the event year after year, providing a high quality competition for all to enjoy.

An event of this scale takes many months of planning and preparation to ensure that it is delivered to the highest standard. At least 250 volunteers are required over the course of a weekend to allow the event to be run efficiently and safely. A range of help is required in the form of jump judges, dressage stewards, crossing point stewards, show jumping stewards, arena parties, scorers just to name a few. If you are able to assist in any way, we would be delighted to hear from you.

We are always looking for reliable, fun, enthusiastic people to help us during Burgham International Horse Trials, you don’t need any experience or even be particularly horsey! If you are interested in volunteering we would be delighted to hear from you.

If you haven’t volunteered before, don’t worry.  We are a friendly and supportive team and the other volunteers will help you out too!  It’s a great way to meet people and make new friends as well as seeing the sport close up.  And if you are a competitor it gives you a real insight as to how the sport you love operates on the ground.  

We are delighted to let you know that the volunteer applications for 2024 are now live.

As everyone knows, the sport of eventing cannot exist without volunteers. Volunteers show up rain or shine, with smiles and generously give their free time to make sure everyone has a fun and safe day of sport.

The event timetable is on the website – click here. Our preference is that volunteer shifts will be full day shifts ranging in times from 7-8am through to the end of competition. If you’re not able to volunteer for a full day we do have a limited number of part day roles.

We have three days of cross country on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and you can volunteer for one, two or all three days. If possible, we prefer jump judges to come for a full day to minimise vehicles on the course and to reduce delays between classes.

The day typically starts with a full briefing at 8.00am and usually lasts until around 6.00pm, and each fence has 2 people judging, so you can come as a pair or we will find you a partner for the day.

On Wednesday and Thursday, we have dressage running and the form gives you the opportunity to volunteer for those days too.

Some of the benefits of volunteering …

• Meet and greet at the beginning of the day with drinks and pastries and hand out of equipment;
• Packed lunch and regular drinks provided for the day you volunteer;
• Visits from the “bun run” to keep you topped up with drinks and cake;
• Regular comfort breaks throughout the day as required;
• Free entry to the event for at least one more day of the event;
• A thank you gift;
• Entry into a volunteers’ prize draw (one entry per half day volunteered and across the whole season of Alnwick Ford and Burgham horse trials)
• Free jump judge training to British Eventing standard.

We can’t wait to see everyone back at Burgham in July, and thank you for volunteering!