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...