Jun 07, 2019

Official's Journal: Learning Outside the Classroom

Volunteers being briefed at the FEI World Equestrian Games. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

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 and click here to read about her experience at the B&C Jumping/Course Design Training Program.

The next step for potential judges after attending the training sessions is your apprentice judging. Apprentice judging takes all of the important information learned during the training session and shows how to apply it in real-world situations. While shadowing licensed officials, you get a much better understanding of how to apply the rules and what circumstances to take into consideration.

For Technical Delegates (TD), the majority of the work is done the day before the show. All cross-country courses must be measured for distances and jump dimensions. All of this information is collected for safety analysis, especially in the case of falls. The TD then confers with the President of the Ground Jury about the cross-country course and any concerns they may have before your course is open to walk. Show jumping courses get measured as well as dressage rings and checked to make sure they are set correctly. Stabling is also checked for safety before competitors arrive.

The day of the competition, the TD’s main and most important job is briefing the volunteers. Making sure that they understand the importance of their jobs and the safety aspects that our sport requires is of utmost importance. TDs must be able to explain our sports complex rules quickly and efficiently to those who may have never been to an event before.

Technical Delegates have to be ready to jump into action. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

Once the TD has completed the volunteer briefing, their job is to observe and be ready in the event that something happens and questions of rules come into play. Really any time a competitor has a question about a rule, the TD is the first official they will communicate with. The TD will meet with the competitor and listen to the competitor and find out what the question/issue is and then find how the rules then apply to their situation. If this does not resolve the issue, the TD then gathers all of this information together to present to the President of the Ground Jury for the final decision.

At the end of every event, the TD must fill out forms documenting the details of the event, especially if there are falls. Every fall is documented and details recorded to provide insight on how to make competitions safer. Even if no falls happen, data is still collected on how many stops or run outs certain jumps caused and this can be brought to course designers attention and changes can be made. The TD can also make suggestions on improvements for events as well as any suggestions on how things could be run more smoothly and safely.

Apprenticing really helps potential judges get a feel for what it is like to really judge. It is very important to be ready for anything and to be able to think on your feet. Knowing the rules is one thing, but being able to think calmly in certain situations and how to talk to people is another crucial skill. All of these skills are difficult to teach from a textbook situation but are much better learned in real situations.

Feb 15, 2025 Profile

Can’t Keep a Good Horse Down: Ava Vojnovic and LH Clean Slate’s Comeback

“This guy has been through a lot." According to Ava Vojnovic, that was Olympian Boyd Martin’s reaction upon seeing her horse, LH Clean Slate at a clinic last month. He hit the nail on the head. Since 2022, “Slate” has struggled with a multitude of injuries that kept him out of work for just under three years. It all started in 2022, when Vojnovic and Slate started having difficulties under saddle that kept ending up with Vojnovic on the ground.

Feb 14, 2025 AEC

USEA Announces Tina Fitch Photography as Official Photographer of the 2025 USEA AEC

The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is thrilled to share that Tina Fitch Photography will be the official photographer at the 2025 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds. The 2025 AEC take place Aug. 26-31, 2024 at Galway Downs in Temecula, California.

Feb 14, 2025 Eventing News

Triple 2024 Leadboard Winner No May Moon is on Her Way to the Top of the Sport

Allison Springer has always known that No May Moon was a special horse, but she didn’t quite expect the 2024 season they ended up having. With a big win in the MARS Bromont CCI4*-L (Quebec, Canada), a third-place finish at the Morven Park CCI4*-L (Leesburg, Virginia), and several top 5 placings at the Advanced level, “Mayzie” earned the 2024 Standlee USEA Horse of the Year award, as well as the Bates USEA Mare of the Year award. She also topped the 2024 Advanced Horse of the Year standings.

Feb 13, 2025 Association News

Beware of Phishing Attempts and Other Types of Fraud

Please always remain vigilant when it comes to sending any personal communications via email or text. Every year we receive reports of members and leaders of our sport receiving phishing attempts both online and by phone. These are often communications disguised as being sent from USEA staff or other leaders. As the years go on, the phishing attempts appear to be more directed and tailored.

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