Equestrian Life April 2017 Edition

eventing
STUART BUNTINE
Buntine’s
BLOG...
a Jet-Setting Lifestyle
It’s been a busy few weeks
for us at HQ. Despite
how much planning we
do, Oasby always arrives a
week too early! This year it
was all a bit fraught with the
weather not playing ball until
the last minute. Stuart and
Tom did a great job the week
prior working around some
difficult conditions. Many do
not realise the implications of
rain in the build-up. Luckily we
were well on top with getting
fences out, so this was all achieved
before the wet weather came in.
Over the years we have established
some really good access aprons at
gate ways so they only need minor
attention. This year we made some
more routes through the trees, these
had to be attended to as well as
some major repair on the track in.
The wet last autumn did significant
damage to the ground and it never
really has much time for repair
between the two events. I have had
advisors out to look at some major
re seeding, we will get onto this
hopefully by the end of the week
and it will then get plenty of time to
establish during the summer.
I’ve been in Florida all week! I
can assure you that this was work,
I was TD at Redhills CIC3* in
Tallahassee. I have been a couple
of times and usually we get some
really significant rain during the
week, however this time it was
completely absent, lots of heat and
sun! I always enjoy working at
events abroad, every country has a
different approach to the sport and
there is so much to learn. Redhills is
supported by the city of Tallahassee,
Leon County (the local council)
and the local water authority. It is
unique, in so much as it gets huge
logistical support from the local
council services, there are plenty
of staff from the local Sheriff’s
office, big support by the fire and
emergency authorities. With 200
horses running on cross country day
it was all action as volunteers were
reporting at 0600. I am very aware
of the huge input that the volunteer
army puts in to sporting events
across the globe, so I do like to pop
in to thank them as they arrive.
Cross country day was hot and dry,
they had the Budweiser Clydesdale
Team of 8 and the hitch parading
between classes. This took quite a
bit of logistical planning as there
were three big artic trailers with all
the horses and kit to park, harness
and get into position. We had a
35-minute interlude for them,
they are incredibly popular across
the States, and a true spectacle to
see. I am a little concerned as this
year at Osberton we have a Shire
Festival with over 50 working horses
expected for three days, it took
enough planning to get one team in
for 40 minutes, how we will manage
with 50 on site I am not sure.
Sport is so reliant on volunteers,
it does not really matter which
country or which sport, so many
are staffed by those willing to help
in their own time. The London
Olympics did much to raise the
profile of volunteers and the
massive part that they play. Anna
and I are always looking to ensure
that the ‘team’ are always valued
and appreciated. It has really been
bought home to me what a special
team we have at home: Oasby has
run with its usual efficiency and
spirit. I am increasingly aware
that I am only a very small cog
in the organisational wheel, the
team in the office and the team
on site do so much to make it all
happen. Anna is always thinking
and working to ensure that the ‘on
event’ experience for volunteers is
as positive as possible. With over
400 individual helpers throughout
the year, there is much to do to
make sure they all enjoy their time,
especially when the weather is
against us.
Belton is now just a couple of weeks
away, the diary’s full with planning
and on-site preparation, we are
looking forward to it, but hope that
it does not come too soon.
46 April 2017 Equestrian Life