At just 19, Lincolnshire-based Ryan Hore has become one of the youngest people to obtain the British Eventing Bronze Course Builder Certificate.

Having been around horses most of his life, competing in show jumping and spectating at events such as Belton, Norton Disney and Burghley, Ryan has always held a fascination for cross-country courses.

Ryan said: “When I was 14, I contacted British Eventing and was recommended to speak with Joe Weller who was a course builder local to us. This is where it really started. I volunteered at weekends and during school holidays until I left school at 16. It was at this time I was offered full time work by Joe.”

Ryan’s work is very diverse, and not just about the course.

“We’re also involved with ground maintenance to ensure the going is as good as we can get it, the not so glorious job of painting and fixing fences, building fences in the workshop, and ensuring we have the knowledge and ability to fit the latest safety equipment such as frangible pins and mims clips systems,” added Ryan. “We use a full range of machinery from chainsaws to diggers and are able to fix all of these at the workshop and out on course. Communication is also a key part of our role as we liaise with organisers, officials and competitors.”

Ryan hopes to have a long and happy career in course building.

“I love being creative and building the fences in the workshop, it gives me a great deal of satisfaction,” he says. “I have worked at the U18 Championships, Poplar Park, Lincoln Horse Trials, Norton Disney, Frickley Park and have been part of the Course Repair Team at Burghley Horse Trials for two years.

“Joe and my family have been an incredible support to me. Taking my inspiration from Joe, who has been an incredible talent in the industry, I would love to continue my work for the rest of my career and hope to build at the biggest events in the world.”

British Eventing’s CEO, Rosie Williams said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Ryan to British Eventing’s list of certified course builders. Ryan has shown dedication to safety and a passion for building – two key attributes of a professional course builder. Course builders are a vital part of ensuring we maintain the high standards in safety of our courses, and we encourage anyone interested in taking up course building and designing as a career to get in touch and hopefully follow in Ryan’s footsteps.”

Becoming a BE accredited course designer or builder takes many years of experience, but we aim to make the process as accessible as possible. To become accredited, you will first need experience of building or designing cross country courses for Pony Club, riding club or hunter trials before then applying to become a BE accredited course builder or designer. To become either a Bronze Level BE accredited builder or C List BE accredited designer, you will need to submit an up-to-date CV, along with a letter of recommendation from a TA and a current Accredited Cross Country Course Builder or Designer. The CV should include the applicant’s involvement in events (of any level) in any of the following roles:

• Organising committees
• Cross country course building
• Cross country course designing
• Officiating
• Competing

Details of any BE or FEI training courses attended should also be included.

If you are interested in becoming a course builder or designer, you can find out more by visitinghttps://www.britisheventing.com/course-builders-and-designers or contacting sport@britisheventing.com.