What it’s like to be a flag person in the International Ring

Garrett Charlton works at Spruce Meadows throughout the tournament. On Sunday, he was the flag person in the International Ring at the finish line where the clock stops. He chatted with me about his experience.  

What’s it like to be the flag guy?

It’s exciting to be in the ring. Especially near the end where you can see the riders get either very very excited, or seem a little dejected. Just being in the action, seeing the fans, it’s great. You had the crowd today, it was great.

It felt closer to what it normally is like here.

You know for only a couple hundred, they were loud. It felt like a lot more. Especially because you can feel it in the ring. The riders can feel it too.

Thanks for sharing that perspective. Most people are never going to be on the ground, in the ring, watching the horses and riders go by.

Seeing it up close, being 10-15 feet away from them, it’s a whole different thing, seeing how concentrated they are, knowing that any little move can mess them up. It’s a fun job.

Doing a flag is a very easy job, but with that it’s very easy to get distracted. It’s one of those things you can’t mess it up. You’ll never know if they use you, for the hand clocks – you’re a contingency plan if the start sensors don’t work, so they’re really watching you to make sure it’s exact. If you’re not paying attention, there could be a lot on your shoulders, especially with some of the money rounds that come in. You never ever want to be a reason…luckily that hasn’t ever happened but it keeps you on your toes that’s for sure.

So you stand there, watching the round, and then what?

You stay out of the way, since there’s a jump in the middle of the round right beside where I would be standing. So you stand, try to blend in with the jump or an obstacle, and once they pass through you walk to your point, and make sure you have an eye on the finish line. You put the flag up a jump early, and time it well, and pull it down right when they cross the finish line.

That’s so cool.

It’s very cool to seem them come through that line. Especially when they’re excited. That’s the best part.