Licensed Officials

As the US Equestrian Open of Eventing qualifiers for 2025 approach, Alec Lochore’s expertise as a course designer is set to play a pivotal role in the series. For The Event at Terranova, he will craft the CCI4*-S course, that will challenge both the horses and athletes alike. Phillip Dutton and Azure successfully navigated Lochore's CCI4*-S course at the 2024 Event at Terranova (©SHANNON BRINKMAN) Lochore is a highly respected figure in the world of eventing. With an impressive...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian reminds endurance competition managers and licensed officials to submit their applications for the 2025 Endurance Competition Grant and U.S. FEI Endurance Officials Grant before the deadline of Saturday, Feb. 1 at 11:59 p.m. ET. These grants are intended to support FEI endurance competitions in the U.S. to maintain a healthy calendar of competitions, and to support U.S.-based FEI endurance. The competition grants provide financial support to assist USEF and...

Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian is pleased to announce the opening of the 2025 licensed official development grant application. The grants, first awarded in 2022, were designed to aid equestrians who desire to become a licensed official in addition to current licensed officials who wish to advance their knowledge and license level. Grants are intended to reduce financial barriers for USEF or U.S. Féderation Équestre Internationale officials to complete application requirements such...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is now accepting applications for the Endurance Competition Grant and U.S. FEI Endurance Officials Grant. These grants are intended to support FEI Endurance competitions in the U.S. to maintain a healthy calendar of competitions, as well as to support U.S. FEI endurance officials and maintain a healthy number of officials that are licensed in the U.S. Applications for both grants are due by February 1, 2025. Competition Grant : Application deadline is...

Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian has resources available for endurance ride organizers who are interested in hosting an FEI-licensed endurance competition in the U.S. The guide is available for free from the endurance section of USEF.org . Click here to view the US Equestrian guide to hosting a U.S.-based FEI endurance competition. The guide provides a walkthrough of the process of hosting an FEI event, providing an overview of the steps within the following four stages: Licensing...

Course designer Guilerme Jorge said he wanted to design a properly difficult course for the Winter Equestrian Festival's new contestants. Photo: Devyn Trethewey/US Equestrian The $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI5* concluded the 12-week long season at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, highlighting some of the top international combinations in the show jumping world. We caught up with Course Designer Guilherme Jorge, who is one of the most renowned 5* designers in the world,...

As I sit here in Ocala, Fla., in late summer, looking back on the most recent cross-country tracks that I’ve had the honor to design, I can’t help but reflect on my journey to this point. I have traveled thousands of miles across the country, spending hundreds of hours being a bona fide part of the great sport of eventing as a USEF Licensed Official. I’ve met countless organizers, facility/farm support staff, volunteers, course builders as well as riders and their faithful...

I remember the first time I served as a licensed official. It was the early ‘90s, and I was the Technical Delegate. I was confident because eventing had been “my" sport since the mid-60s, so I had a lot of experience riding and competing. But when the first horse started, all I could think of was, “Oh no, this is WAY different!” It was in that moment that I realized that, when I rode, my only responsibility was me, and now my responsibility was every rider, every horse....

Photo: Laura Elcock One of the best ways to contribute to your particular breed or discipline—and become a more knowledgeable competitor at the same time—is to join the ranks of licensed officials. There are 154 different licenses, including licenses for judges, stewards, technical delegates, and course designers. “For me, the most important reason to do it is to give back to the industry, and I also think it’s a responsibility and an honor to be in a position to guard...

What are licensed officials at equestrian competitions really thinking? We asked four to share their wisdom on a range of topics: tips for competitors, insights into the challenges of officiating, and more. Photo: Andrea Evans/US Equestrian Danny Robertshaw, Lisa Gorretta, Donna Pettry-Smith, and Cindy Mugnier all graciously agreed to discuss their work in different areas of equine sport. The joy of competing in their respective disciplines, and the desire to give back to those disciplines or...