Four-year volunteer Jim Herman talks a lot about how nice everybody is at Galway Downs.
“My biggest comment on being a volunteer is how grateful everybody is,” says the proud grandfather of Junior Beginner Novice rider, Lauren Herman. “As you are sitting out there on course, watching the riders and trainers, everybody is like, ‘Thank you so much for being a jump judge.’ And the whole Galway crew is so appreciative, too.”
The feeling is mutual. “I’m so happy that I can show up,” Jim says. “I feel honored to have the opportunity to come and watch some of these people. It’s always an amazing day that goes by really fast.”
On The Job training
Jim embodies the notion that equestrian experience is not needed to excel in most volunteer posts. His daughter Jana Herman competed on the hunter/jumper circuit as a junior, so he’s not a stranger to horse sports. But he was never a “horse guy” per se. And he didn’t have much time to watch until he retired from his career as a truck driver for Pepsi-Cola.
His retirement dovetailed with Lauren getting deeper into eventing. She started riding at 4 and, at about 10, began visiting Galway Downs with her first trainer for schooling sessions. When there was downtime in the day, Lauren “got me started on being a jump judge,” Jim explains.
Initially, Lauren and Jim worked the same fence together. If the event was short on volunteers, they split up. Lauren trained him so well in the task that he’s now confident handling more than one jump on his own. At the International Horse Trials in March, Jim confidently monitored two fences most of the day.
“Whether you’re watching the 4* or Starter division, they’re all so focused and concentrating on just one jump. You’re so close you can hear the rider talking to their horse as they jump over. You know that, even in the Starter division, that jump more than likely looks huge. For me, it’s always great to call in a ‘clear’ to the course controller in the tower.”
Jim is happy to work anywhere on course and he only has one request when signing up to volunteer – getting a break when Lauren rides so he can watch. Galway’s Volunteer Committee is so great, he never worries about missing his granddaughter’s ride. “I don’t even have to think about it until the volunteer golf cart shows up with someone saying, ‘It’s time to go see Lauren ride.’”
Great Way To Grow Up
Watching Lauren, now 15, grow up on the eventing scene is another bonus, Jim shares. “It’s a great way to grow up with horses – it rocks her world. Whenever she calls, that’s all she talks about.”
Lauren rides with Galway Downs-based trainer Erin Kellerhouse. The young rider and her new horse, Chattachoochoo, a 12-year-old Thoroughbred, finished 3rd in the Junior Beginning Novice Rider division at the Horse Trials this past March.
Whatever the competitive outcome, experiencing an event together has become a great family affair. Staying on site in Jana’s RV enables lots of family time, along with time for Lauren to prepare and care for her horse.
“My dad is the ultimate girl dad and cheerleader, enthusiastically supporting every rider on the course,” Jana shares. “It’s been fun to watch him become a horse show grandpa.”
Watching riders and listening to comments from event staff and fellow volunteers on the cross-country radio network, Jim learns more about horses and horsemanship all the time. But he never mistakes himself for an expert when it comes to advice. “I leave that to her mom, Jana, who is from that world.”
Jim may not have been from the horse world originally, but he is now fully part of it and embraced by it. As a regular volunteer, Jim is one of many whose time and dedication make the sport possible.
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