How did your journey into showjumping begin, and what first led you to become involved in course building?
Like many people, my journey began because of my children. I wanted to support them and became involved with our local club wherever I could. What started as helping out gradually became a passion for course design and contributing to the sport in a different way.
In March you attended the FEI Level 1 Course in Japan and received your certificate. You said Werener Deeg, Olaf Petersen and Anderson Lima shared their wisdom, and no doubt insights into the art of course building. What tips can you pass onto younger Course Builders coming through the ranks?
Look, listen and learn—every single time you build a course. The horses and riders will always tell you how your course rode if you’re prepared to watch carefully. Find mentors who challenge you rather than simply agree with you and never stop learning.
What goes into designing or setting a good course that many riders may never realise?
You’re never simply placing fences around an arena. Every course should tell a story. It should have rhythm, flow and balance, asking questions appropriate to the level while allowing horse and rider to build both confidence and competence as they progress. If competitors leave having learned something and wanting to come back, then I fell that I’ve probably achieved what I set out to do.
What makes a course both fair and enjoyable for competitors across different levels?
For me, a fair course asks questions that are appropriate for the level. Riders should feel challenged, but never tricked. Good course design rewards good and correct riding rather than trying to catch people out.
Have you ever watched a class unfold exactly as you hoped—or perhaps completely differently?
I don’t think any course unfolds exactly as you imagine because horses are wonderfully unpredictable. I think that one of the most satisfying moments is when you’ve included a more testing option, a rider recognises it, commits to it and executes it well. Those moments remind you that course design is really a conversation between designer, horse and rider. I have also seen many classes that are indelibly marked in my memory bank too. Some for the whole class and some because of specific elements.
Course builders often have to balance safety and competition. How do you approach that responsibility? And do you ever take into consideration the level of riders competing over your course?
Safety will always come first. The better you understand the venue, footing, equipment, riders and horses, the better decisions you’ll make. If I’m designing somewhere new, I’ll ask plenty of questions beforehand and even use Google Earth to understand the surroundings, arena orientation and where the sun rises and sets. Every piece of information helps build a safer and fairer course.
From your perspective, what qualities do the riders who consistently perform well tend to have in common?
I think that the best riders understand their horses, they remain disciplined in their preparation and they make good decisions under pressure. They don’t force a round—they ride the horse they have on the day.
The sport has changed significantly over the years. What are some of the biggest changes you’ve noticed in course building or showjumping more broadly?
The professionalism across every aspect of the sport has continued to grow—from organising committees and officials through to riders, surfaces and equipment. Everyone is working towards higher standards, and ultimately that benefits horse welfare, rider safety and the spectator experience.
What do you enjoy most about spending your weekends at horse shows, and what keeps you coming back year after year?
I’ve met some wonderful people through showjumping and made friendships both nationally and internationally that I value enormously. During the COVID years I realised just how much those weekends away meant to me. I genuinely love the sport, the people and the opportunity to contribute.
Finally, when the last class has finished, and you’re making your way home, what gives you the greatest sense of satisfaction after a successful event?
My greatest satisfaction comes from being part of a team that has given its collective all to deliver an event competitors have genuinely enjoyed and want to return to. As a Course Designer, if the horses and riders are the stars of the weekend rather than the person who built the course, then I feel comfortable that I’ve done my job well.
