United States Eventing Association

Official's Journal: Final Exam Preparation

Erin Kimmer is on a journey to obtain her USEF “r” Technical Delegate license and is taking us along with her through the Training Program for Eventing Officials. Click here to read her first installment, click here to read about her experience at the B&C Jumping/Course Design Training Program., and click here to read about her apprenticeship.

The final exam for licensed officials is right around the corner! In preparation for the final exam during the USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) in Lexington, Kentucky, I have been reviewing all information received from our training sessions as well as all of the rules that officials are required to be familiar with.

Eventing has more rules than most equestrian disciplines, so there is a lot of information to cover. We have our own rules for eventing under the USEF but there are also more under the general USEF rules. USEF's eventing rules are more eventing specific than the general USEF rules. The general USEF rules tend to be more general show rules and deal with all of the procedural polices. Some of the most important of the USEF rules for TDs to be aware of are the drugs and medications rules and how they are enforced. We are responsible for the enforcement of a portion of these rules and need to be educated on the most up-to-date versions.

Our earlier training session were such a wealth of information that going back and reviewing everything once more has been very helpful. I know that we will be asked to work through several case studies, so I have been going back through those and reviewing the rules associated with them. I will go back through my personal notes to see what information was maybe mentioned but not printed in our literature that I felt was important enough to take note of.

Jump measurement methods are another topic that I have been told that I will be expected to know and be able to demonstrate during my exam. Going back and reviewing all of the jump measurement specifics and my notes on how certain jumps are measured will be key as well.

I have also had some judging experience at unrecognized shows. Some of these are just local academy shows. I have also been very lucky to be able to TD at the Carolina Horse Park’s War Horse Series Horse Trials in June and again for their August show. Both of these have provided me with the “think on your feet” scenarios that I will have to deal with once I am a real official. I am especially grateful to Marc Donovan for entrusting me to TD at these unrecognized events before getting my license. It has given me so much confidence leading up to the final exam!

I still have a couple of online quizzes to do that the USEA has provided to help prepare us for the exam to complete and a few more rules to review. I am feeling confident and prepared for the exam - wish me luck!