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SJ Course Designers

USEF Eventing Show Jumping Course Advisor Program

By USEF - Edited Press Release | May 05, 2017
Richard Jeffery instructing a course design clinic at the 2016 USEA Annual Meeting & Convention. USEA/Shelby Allen Photo.

The USEF Jumping Course Advisor program was introduced in 2004 to raise the standard of eventing jumping course design in the United States. Initially, the program focused on 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 which 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 eventing 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 USEF Eventing Show Jumping Course Advisor, Richard Jeffery’s recommendation), the Eventing Committee approved a next phase for this program.

Beginning in 2017, Jeffery will review jumping courses for all FEI Eventing Competitions in the U.S. following the conclusion of the events. Course Designers will be 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. In the inaugural year, anyone interested in course design may also utilize this educational resource.

Events Completed So Far in 2017:

Carolina International Horse Trials - Raeford, NC March 22 - 26, 2017

Chattahoochee Hills Horse Trials - Fairburn, GA April 7-9, 2017

Galway Downs International Horse Trials - Temecula, CA March 30 - April 2, 2017

Pine Top Horse Trials - Thomson, GA February 23 - 26, 2017

Poplar Place Farm Horse Trials - Hamilton, GA March 23-26, 2017

Red Hills International Horse Trials - Tallahassee, FL March 9 - 12, 2017

The Fork Horse Trials - Tryon, NC April 5-9, 2017

Twin Rivers CCI2*, 1* and CIC3* Horse Trials - Paso Robles, CA April 13-16, 2017