Friday Feature: Course Design

This week’s letter is C. If you missed last week’s Friday Feature, take a look at Branding.

For people to be able to take part in competitions – especially at a higher level – there is someone specifically hired to design the course.  This is particularly so with regards to jumping.

Because a course needs to be set up in such a way that it is safe for horse and rider, challenging and able to be completed in a particular timeframe, the course designer will need to have an idea of riding a course themselves.

Consequently, it may be easier for proficient equestrians to move into the field of designing courses for horse riding.

If you’re interested in this line of work, be ready to acquire:

• knowledge of different jumping heights for varying equestrian levels
• knowledge of different types of jumps (upright, spread, combination, bounce, etc)
• knowledge of a horse’s stride and how it fits between landing from one jump and taking off for the next jump
• a reputation as a great course designer so that you will be contacted by those holding events
• knowledge of local event holders to be able to source out potential work
• materials with which to make jumps, knowledge of how to make jumps or a familiarity with working with others’ jumps

For some posts that relate to this topic on Equus-Blog, take a look at:

• Course Design (Jumping)
• EFA Course Designing/Carriage Driving
• Jumps Course Design
• PCAV State Workshop

“Why go over this jump when there is a perfectly good path around it?” – Author unknown

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