Show jumping course design:
my FEI experience at your service in Italy and abroad
In show jumping, every course is a story written with four hands, or rather with eight legs and two hearts. It is the story of a combination, horse and rider, linked by an invisible thread of trust, technique and balance. My task, as Course Director, is to create the perfect stage for this story to unfold: a track that knows how to put this harmony to the test, exalt talent and provide entertainment, with full respect for both protagonists.
I’m Andrea Colombo, and for years I have lived show jumping from the unique perspective of Course Director. My passion has led me to reach the 4th level of the FEI (International Equestrian Federation) and to design courses for competitions in Italy and in international contexts. Each competition is a new blank page, an opportunity to devise stimulating, technically valid and always different challenges, capable of making each competition unique and highlighting the elegance and power of our sport.
My role as a Course Director:
technique, safety and showmanship
What does it mean to be a Course Director? It means being the invisible director behind the scenes of a show jumping competition. My job starts long before the first combination enters the arena.
- I design the courses, laying out the tracks in strict compliance with national and international regulations, calibrating the difficulties according to the category, but always with a pinch of creativity
- I measure every metre, every distance between show jumping obstacles, every line is measured to the millimetre to ensure technical fairness
- I check the suitability of the courses and the ground conditions for competitions and test grounds, ensuring that they are optimal for performance and, above all, safety
- I ensure the overall safety of horses, riders and spectators: this is my top priority at every stage
- I coordinate the technical staff, supervising the work of the track managers and assistants, ensuring that everything is carried out to the highest technical and athletic standards
It is a job of precision, experience and great responsibility, aimed at creating the ideal conditions for the sport to perform at its best.
Designing for the horse’s wellbeing: my top priority
A show jumping course must be challenging, of course, but never to the detriment of the horse. The wellbeing of our athletic partner is and must always come first. When designing a course, I take into account countless factors that influence not only the performance, but the physical and mental health of the horse.
The stability and quality of the ground, the number and type of obstacles, their layout, the distances between jumps… every element is crucial.
A wrong distance can break the rhythm, unnecessarily tiring the animal. My goal is to create courses that are technically interesting, that require skill and preparation, that entertain the audience, but that allow the horse to express itself with confidence, serenity and in full respect of its physiological and psychological needs. A good course is one that the horse tackles with enthusiasm and concludes feeling empowered, not exhausted.