This article was written in January 2003 by Steve Meroshnekoff, Wonder Worker Chair- Region 1 so that others could get an idea of what it takes to be a Wonder Worker and to help inspire others to help out too!

Become a Wonder Worker Volunteer!

Going out as a volunteer on a P&R team for the first time was a very interesting experience. I had no idea what to expect or what would be expected of me. I was very lucky to be going out with a well seasoned group of volunteers and even luckier to be teamed up with a very seasoned team-mate to help me learn all the ins and outs of being a successful P&R person.

My first job was (after some on job training using the point riders) to count the respirations of a horse after the required 10-minute rest. The job of my teammate was to count the heartbeats of the horse after the same 10-minute rest. I had no problem counting the respirations of the horses after the first P&R checkpoint.

At the next checkpoint my new job was to take on the task of doing the heart rate checks. I thought was going to be a major problem for me, as I'm hard of hearing and just knew I would mess this up so I was very nervous about this task. After some more training, understanding, and a lot of hard listening (on my part) I took on the first horse. I was very apprehensive about this beast with this pounding heartbeat but I had no problem hearing it! After a few horses, I felt good about this new job.

Well at the next, checkpoint my new surprise was to take on a horse all by myself! Oh great, now the pressure was really on me, I just knew the riders were going to eat me up and spit me out. Thankfully, my teammate had given me some good instruction, which to this day I use and pass on to all new volunteers: Poker face. Always maintain a Poker face and the riders will figure that you know what the heck you're doing. Second, if a rider asks for a "recheck" Do not take it personally.

I feel that the job of a P&R person is to make sure a horse is safe to go on down the trail to finish the ride or come back another day to compete again. Sometime the rider get a little tunnel vision and lose focus on what is best for the horse. As a P&R worker, our job is to help the Vet Judge by helping to monitor what's going on with the horses we check. We are giving an "Opinion" of our findings to the riders and the rider has a right to ask for a second opinion. I figured that a second opinion is sometimes a good idea especially if a horse checks out a little high. Sometimes even, I will ask for a recheck if I think a horse is in trouble.

Usually the P&R captain (who is usually "God" to the rider) performs the "rechecks". He or she has a lot of experience, is well known to all the riders, and is respected for being non-biased and having the knowledge to make the best call for the horse (next to the Vet Judge). Usually the captain's call is not questioned and if he is in doubt the horse is brought to the attention the Vet Judge for a further look, at the earliest possible time. I was a rider for a number of years before I took on the job of volunteering as a P&R person and over the years, have enjoyed helping out very much.

I think every rider should at some time in his or her riding career go out and volunteer on a P&R team and get a feel of what it's like to stand there and give an opinion of a horse. I do respect each and every rider and their horses. I think a rider should be able perform a pulse and respiratory check on his or her horse to know what is going on for the horses well being and safety.