Show Jumping Course Designers

The show jumping course designer (CD) is responsible for the layout, measurement, preparation, and demarcation of the route for the show jumping portion of horse trials and three-day events.

Contact Nancy Knight at [email protected] or (703) 669-9997 for more information on becoming a course designer and for educational opportunities in your area.

USEF Eventing Show Jumping Course Advisor Program

In cooperation with the USEA, the USEF Show Jumping Course Advisor Program was introduced in 2004 to raise the standard of show jumping course design in the United States. Initially, the program focused on show jumping courses for FEI and Advanced level competitions. The goal of the program was to ensure the standard of the courses throughout the country and to deliver courses that provided the same technicality level they would expect to find at the championship level.

Since its inception, the program has expanded to include review of courses for Preliminary and Intermediate horse trials. The program has been effective in improving the consistency of show jumping courses through the review and critique of courses from a majority of designers at the Preliminary level and above. After 12 years (and at Richard Jeffery’s recommendation), the Eventing Committee approved a next phase for this program.

Beginning in 2017, Jeffery reviews show jumping courses for all FEI eventing competitions in the United States following the event. Course designers are asked to submit their courses as posted to Jeffery with all technical details (distance, time allowed, etc.) within five days of the competition. Each course will be posted on the USEF website with Jeffery’s analysis along with a course evaluation completed by the course designer prior to the event. This will allow course designers to review other courses and consider Jeffery’s input when designing their own courses. The ultimate goal is to establish and maintain an equal standard of jumping for events across the country.

To view all of the reviews provided by this program please click here.