Mini Course Design Seminar (from MeCTA Annual Banquet 2003)

1. Selecting Terrain for XC.

• Large scale topographic maps and aerial photos can be a great help.

• Look for good footing. Try to avoid areas that will not support 50 horses
galloping over them in a day.

• Look for some variety in terrain. Slopes/hills allow you to ask different questions.

• Look for possible sites for terrain-fences (water, ditches, banks)

• In fields, if you look immediately after haying, you'll see much more in the way of
detail in the terrain than you will under grass.

2. Laying out the course.

• Plan the ROUTE first, then consider the obstacles.

• Natural terrain features get priority: water, ditch, drop, bank, etc.

• Avoid very twisty routes. The course should FLOW. Try to keep turns gradual
and sweeping, and/or plan them for the take-off (or landing) areas for jumps,
rather than in the middle of a gallop. That way, the horse is already being
"gathered" for the jump and the turn may actually help to balance them up.

3. Siting and Types of Obstacles.

• First priority for the course is EDUCATING the horse and rider, especially at
lower levels (Novice and below). 2nd is testing them, and it should do that. This
is NOT a schooling ground, but even the worst should get around safely and
hopefully have fun!

• Every fence should ask a different Question. At lower levels, ONE question at a
time! At Training and above you can start thinking in terms of multiple questions.

• At lower levels, obstacles should have fairly level, unobstructed approaches. It is

better to err on the side of making things too easy, than too difficult.

• Think of the course in 3 parts: Warm-up, Test, Cool-down. The first 3 fences
should be inviting, massive, with sloping faces and no technical problems. Fence
1, particularly, should be no more then 90% of max height, 50% of max width.
 • "Testing" fences should be followed by a simple fence to allow horse/rider to
regroup and restore confidence.

• Do plan to reward Boldness, Obedience, Balance and Impulsion.

• Always ask "How will a good horse/rider jump this? Is it safe for a less-able
pair?"

• Also: "Why am I doing this?"

a) warm-up?
b) to use a natural feature?
c) to add variety?
d) to test horse's boldness?
e) to test rider's ability? (but at low levels be absolutely sure the Q and
fence are safe & fair)
f) to provide a "let up" after a difficult fence?

• And "HOW CAN I IMPROVE IT NEXT TIME?"

Types of Obstacles: Verticals, Spreads, Ditches, Banks, Drops, Brush, Water,

Options, Combinations.

• Verticals are generally discouraged on XC, and are especially dangerous in open
fields. This fence does not reward a galloping horse. Fences with very sloping
faces (steeplechase type) are much better and safer in those sites.

• Parallel rails are not a suitable question if used on downhill slopes.

• Other questions you can ask: light/dark, turns before/after, terrain, accuracy.

• Options are strongly encouraged, at all levels. They make the riders think! Just
be sure the questions are comparable.

• Combinations are not allowed until Training level.

What makes an obstacle difficult? TERRAIN! Size is relatively unimportant.

4. Building

• Try to use a variety of materials, but try to keep similar materials within each
fence.
 • Each obstacle should have at least a 16-24' face, or wider! Narrow face fences
may be used, but they must have wings (natural or constructed).

• All fences must be built to take a "hit". Top rails need to be Bomb Proof. Use a
minimum of 6" diam. logs, 8" is even better, and at least 2" lumber. Tables need
to be able to support a horse on top.

• Do use Rope to secure rails, especially if there's any chance a horse could get
caught and necessitate the jump being quickly dismantled.

• Do remember that for jumps in a fence-line, any wire fence MUST be removed or
covered for 30' on each side of an obstacle.

How to Measure Jumps: from the take-off spot (about 4' out) (think about this before you
build them!)
The site makes ALL the difference.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Course Design and Construction for Horse Trials. Mary Gordon Watson, ed.
1987. (Hugh Thomas and Neil Ayer on XC)
2. Constructing Cross-Country Obstacles. Bill Thomas. 1972.
3. Designing Courses and Obstacles. J.H. Fritz, ed. 1978. (Bill Thomas on XC)
4. AHSA Rules for Combined Training (e.g. USCTA Rules)
5. A Clinic on Cross-Country Course Design and Construction with Tremaine
Cooper. MeCTA, 1991.
6. USCTA Seminar with Neil Ayer: Cross-Country Course Design and
Construction. 1989.
7. USCTA Seminar with Hugh Thomas: Cross-Country Course Design. 1988.
8. British Horse Society Horse Trials, Notes on Cross-Country Course Design and
Fence Construction. 1980.
9. The ABC's of Cross-Country Design and Construction. Compiled by Sally O'Connor
for the USCTA. 1997.