Equestrian sport cannot function without an army of willing volunteers – and while there were concerns that the impact of Covid-19 might leave the sport short, nothing could be further from the truth. H&H finds out how changes owing to the pandemic is bringing volunteering into an exciting new era...
New technology and events running behind closed doors are bringing volunteering in equestrian sport into a new era, with potential new recruits told there is no time like the present to get involved.
Currently, volunteers have some of the few front-row seats to watch live sport.
Extra days to cater for entry numbers, social distancing measures and new technology have led to a new look to volunteering and – for some events – more new faces.
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"}
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H&H senior news writer
Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.