ESDCTA Volunteer Recognition Program

Our shows and events wouldn’t be possible without everyone who generously donates their time throughout the year. The ESDCTA Volunteer Recognition Program celebrates that commitment with tiered awards, special gifts, and entries into an annual cash raffle!

Volunteer Recognition Tiers

Each tier includes formal recognition and a special prize. All recipients will also be recognized at the annual ESDCTA Awards Banquet!

  • Bronze: 20 Hours
  • Silver: 35 Hours
  • Gold: 50 Hours
  • Platinum: 65+ Hours

Earn Entries Into Our Cash Raffle

For every 10 volunteer hours completed, you’ll receive one entry into the ESDCTA Volunteer Cash Raffle. For example, if you’ve completed 40 hours (which would put you into the Silver tier), you recieve 4 entries into the raffle!

The more you volunteer, the more entries you can earn, and the higher your chances of winning a cash prize.

Double Volunteer Hours at ESDCTA-Hosted Events

Want to reach your next tier faster? While all volunteer hours from ESDCTA-recognized shows and events count (everything that appears on our online calendar), volunteer hours earned at events hosted by ESDCTA count double toward the Volunteer Recognition Program (and all other Year-End Awards).

Eligible ESDCTA-hosted events include:

  • Memorial Weekend Dressage I & II
  • ESDCTA Horse Trials
  • ESDCTA Championship Show
  • CBLM Championships at the HPNJ
  • Other qualifying ESDCTA-hosted events and activities

For example, volunteering for 8 hours at a qualifying ESDCTA-hosted event would count as 16 hours towards your total.

Your Hours Will Still Count Towards ESDCTA Year-End Awards

The Volunteer Recognition Program is an additional benefit for ESDCTA volunteers. It does not replace ESDCTA’s existing volunteer requirements, awards, or grant programs.

All volunteer hours earned may still be applied toward ESDCTA year-end awards! The hours used to apply for Volunteer Recognition Program awards are not one-and-done.

In other words: earning recognition through this program does not use up your volunteer hours! However, keep in mind that when applying for Volunteer Recognition Program awards, you cannot use donated volunteer hours. You must earn them yourself. You may use donated hours for our other year-end awards.

Important Information & Rules for the Volunteer Recognition Program

  • Volunteer hours must be earned between November 1 and October 31, ESDCTA’s annual awards calendar.
  • Hours may be earned at ESDCTA shows, clinics, ESDCTA-recognized shows, and other approved activities.
  • Hours earned at qualifying ESDCTA-hosted events receive double credit toward this program (see above).
  • Volunteer hours must be earned by the individual member and cannot be transferred to another person (see above).
  • Hours reset with each new ESDCTA volunteer year and cannot be carried forward into a future year.
  • Members are responsible for maintaining their volunteer hour documentation and submitting the required ESDCTA volunteer hour forms when applying for recognition. The deadline to apply is November 15th, as with our other year-end awards.

Where to Find ESDCTA Volunteer Opportunities

Any show or event that can be found on our online calendar counts towards the Volunteer Recognition Program! https://esdcta.org/calendar-of-events/

For all volunteer opportunities, please visit our page here: https://esdcta.org/volunteer/esdcta-volunteering-opportunities/

If you have specific questions about volunteering, please reach out to volunteer@esdcta.org.