The Horse Show brings together a large group of enthusiastic volunteers. We have a wide variety of tasks scheduled throughout the entire week of the event. Preparatory tasks begin the week before the event and continue through the cleanup. Most tasks are divided into two shifts during the event, and as a general rule, you must commit to helping out for at least three days of the event. You’ll be assigned tasks by a group leader, who will guide and help you succeed in your volunteer role.
We have a great team spirit, as evidenced by the fact that, out of more than 650 volunteers, only about 100 spots become available each year for new, enthusiastic volunteers—so apply quickly for a role that interests you.
Volunteers will receive an event T-shirt, meals during their shifts, and a badge that grants them access.
Our goal is to have satisfied volunteers who are well-trained and work in a safe environment. Come experience a unique sense of community and become part of the Horse Show Crew family!
Volunteer applications open on October 19, 2026. Be sure to follow this page!
Service-oriented individuals with strong language skills excel in accreditation. During accreditation, staff members, riders, and others who need access passes are issued the appropriate passes, which allow them to move around the competition area during HIHS.
In the Arena Group, you get to experience the atmosphere of the competition arena up close. The Arena Group’s task is to build and dismantle the courses. Building the courses requires thorough preparation so that the courses designed by the course master can be built to the centimeter within a tight schedule. Working in the Arena Team requires some prior experience, the ability to work within a tight schedule, as well as precision and attention to detail. In the arena team, you’ll be guided by experienced team leaders and receive task-specific instruction. The courses get a final touch with stunning floral decorations. This year, for the first time, we have two competition arenas, which adds a whole new charm to this task.
A cheerful information team is on hand to assist the public at the front of the entrance lobbies. Lobby attendants, who are stationed at information desks and in the hallways, can provide information on event schedules, dining options, and any other event-related matters.
Parents can relax and enjoy top-level sports from the stands while the Horse Show’s childcare professionals take care of the youngest members of the family at Kids Park.
At the competition office, you can meet the stars of the Horse Show—the riders and grooms. The competition office is open to riders throughout the event. The office handles tasks such as verifying vaccination records, processing registrations, and managing start and results lists. There are separate competition offices for international and national riders.
The show jumping arena will be transformed into a dressage arena with the help of the dressage and arena teams. As a secretary to the FEI judges, you’ll have a front-row seat to observe and learn about the judging of international dressage.
The Flowers and Decorations Team is responsible for the floral displays along the obstacle course and the course decorations. The team’s duties include designing and creating floral arrangements, as well as maintaining the decorations. In addition, the group decorates the VIP areas, the press room, and the public areas of the Ice Hall, and is responsible for the award flowers. The florist is in charge of all planning.
During the event, the access control team is responsible for monitoring the stands, walkways, and access pass checkpoints in collaboration with the pit crew and the convention center staff.
This team is responsible for ensuring that the international press feels welcome and that press conferences are successful. The team members’ tasks are very diverse and can change significantly during an event, so the ability to react quickly, strong organizational skills, and language proficiency are essential for this role.
The media team is right where the action is. The team consists of event reporters, social media producers, and video and photo journalists. Media team members are on site when event setup begins and remain there throughout the entire event week. They work under the guidance of the press officer and marketing manager and also collaborate with the press team. Team members get to follow and cover the event from a front-row seat.
Behind the scenes, there is a dedicated first-aid team and an ambulance on standby to assist riders and staff. A separate first-aid team is responsible for providing first aid to the public. The first-aid team and ambulance are on duty only during the competitions, and of course we hope that the first-aid team will have as little work as possible. The first-aid team consists of doctors and other professionals trained in first aid.
The jumps, which have earned high praise from international riders, are crafted by this team. The rails are given stunning new finishes, and the sponsors’ wishes come to life through the brushes of skilled jump builders. The jumps are also continuously maintained during competitions to ensure that, in every class, they gleam in a vibrant array of colors.
The Awards Committee, together with the Judging Tower and the Floral Committee, is responsible for ensuring that the award ceremonies for all classes take place in a festive atmosphere. In all classes, awards are presented in accordance with the rules, which requires a great deal of preparatory work on the part of the awards team. Quick reactions and good situational awareness are key to this task.
The construction team is responsible for many heavy construction, demolition, and relocation tasks. Most of the construction takes place before the competitions begin, and demolition begins immediately after the event ends. In addition, there are many different repair, relocation, and support tasks during the event.
Star riders and judges have their own shuttle service. Shuttle drivers get to chat with the riders when the shuttle cars meet them at the airport and handle the necessary transportation during the event.
The Support Services group offers the opportunity to work on a variety of tasks, as they encompass several different functions. Team members assist with various tasks at events, handle copying, and compile visitor profiles for visitor surveys.
A small but highly efficient technical team tackles a wide variety of technical challenges. Before the event, they plan and arrange for the installation and testing of computers, printers, TV monitors, two-way radios, and internet connections, among other things. Maintenance and repair work keep the technical team busy during the event.
The judges’ tower is home to the judges, announcers, assistants, and the results team. The judges’ tower serves as the nerve center of the competition, responsible for overseeing the competition categories in collaboration with the Sports Director.
In the warm-up group, you’ll get a front-row seat to watch top riders warm up. The warm-up group ensures the warm-up area runs smoothly, stays clean, and remains safe. During competitions, the warm-up team ensures that the right rider and horse are on the course at the right time.
The elegant and customer-service-oriented hostesses at the VIP Reception welcome VIP guests with warm greetings. They handle the reception of VIP guests, coat check, and seating arrangements; the team ensures that VIP guests are comfortable throughout the event.
This team sets the mood with music during the competitions, ensures that the audience can hear clearly, and stimulates the senses through sound in conjunction with the lighting. One of their most important tasks is to produce promotional clips for the big screens at scheduled times using materials provided by sponsors and advertisers.
