One Big Thing: So… you want to be a Licensed Official?
Photo via Emily Holmes.
This past weekend, Bouckaert Farm hosted a Continuing Education Clinic (CEC) & “R” and “S” Promotion Training Program for Eventing Officials concurrent to the Bouckaert Equestrian Horse Trials and International. This clinic is one of many planned each year by the Federation to provide educational training for those working towards their licensing requirements, while also providing continuing education as required for those maintaining their current statuses.
We’ve all heard from current officials that the path to licensing is a rewarding one, and that we desperately need more licensed officials to enter the scene. If you’re like us, you’ve likely told yourself, “well, I definitely don’t have the qualifications or experience for that” or “that must take decades of training to even get started” — so we’re here to bust some myths and give a detailed insight into what exactly it takes to become one of those people watching from the judge’s box as you enter the competition ring.
What does the path to licensing look like?
Applicants for the US Equestrian Licensed Officials program have a three-year window in which they must fulfill a set of training requirements. Depending on the position being worked towards (i.e. Dressage Judge, Technical Delegate, etc.), these include different combinations of the following activities:
- USEA Dressage Training Program (two sessions + Independent Study requirements)
- USEA ‘r’ B & C Jumping/Course Design Training Program
- Dressage, cross-country, and jumping apprenticeships
- Final Examination (written, practical, and oral testing and evaluations)
In addition to these programs, applicants must also accumulate at least 10 points from riding, training, organizational, and/or officiating experiences, weighted according to the level of each activity performed. For example, a verifiable event completion at the Preliminary level earns 2 points, while a completion at the CCI4* or 5* level earns 5; serving as a Secretary of a USEF Licensed or Endorsed competition earns the applicant 2 points, but serving as the Organizer or Assistant Organizer earns 3 points in total.
As you may have guessed with so many Continuing Education opportunities provided by the USEF and USEA, officials must also maintain their licensing statuses through a set of requirements. These also operate under three-year windows, during which the applicant must officiate at two or three Licensed or Endorsed competitions (depending on the status level of your license, e.g. ‘r’ vs. ‘R’), attend one USEF/USEA clinic relevant to their status, pass a written examination, and maintain an active federation membership.
Learn more about the timeline, policies, procedures, and requirements for USEA Licensed Officials here.
The Kentucky 5* Ground Jury of Christina Klingspor (SWE), Peter Shaw (AUS), and Angela Tucker (GBR). Photo by Tilly Berendt.
How is the path to licensing funded?
USEA Continuing Education Clinics like this one at Bouckaert Farm are supported by the Janet Briggs Fund for the Continuing Education of Licensed Officials, a fund established to ensure that our current and future generations of licensed officials uphold the high standards, championed by Janet Briggs’ 50 years of service as an event official.
Additionally, the Broussard Charitable Foundation Trust has provided funding to the Going Forward USEA Members Grants, one of which includes a fund for applicants seeking to complete the Eventing Officials ‘r’ Training Program. The USEA Foundation also offers the Haller Educational Scholarship, which provides $5,000 in financial assistance to those licensed officials who are working towards promotion to their ‘R’ license, ‘S’ license, or FEI licenses, which can be used to offset the costs involved in attending seminars or completing practical experience requirements.
And finally, US Equestrian has a complete Licensed Official Grant Program, which first launched in 2022 to reduce financial barriers for officials to complete their requirements and associated costs for license applications and promotions. These grants can be used for many different opportunities, such as the apprenticeship in New Zealand eventer and FEI Steward Alex Ambelang traveled to in her journey towards her FEI Level 3 license. In 2025, USEF awarded over $35,000 to applicants, with an additional grant category being added in 2026. These categories include:
- General grant — based on the industry’s need for more officials
- U35 grant — supports individuals under 35 looking to become a licensed official or obtain promotions to higher levels
- NEW: Officiating abroad grant — provides FEI officials with educational opportunities outside the US
Upcoming CEC Events:
B & C Jumping/CD Training Program — April 3-5, 2026
for prospective ‘r’ Eventing Judges, Technical Delegates, and Course Designers (auditors welcome)
- Stable View, Aiken, SC
- Register here by March 13
Dressage Session II Training Program — April 14-15, 2026
for prospective ‘r’ Eventing Judges (auditors welcome)
- Twin Rivers Ranch, Paso Robles, CA
- Register here (closed to participants)
2026 Final Examination — September 11-13, 2026
(no auditors)
- The Fork at Tryon, Mill Spring, NC
- Register here by August 7
For questions about any of these USEA Educational Events, contact Katherine Cooper ([email protected])
Major International Events This Weekend
Military Montelibretti (ITA): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries] [Scoring] [CrossCountry App XC Map]
Capel Horse & Pony Club CCI (AUS): [Website] [Schedule] [Entries/Ride Times] [CrossCountry App XC Map]
Tamborine Equestrian ODE (AUS): [Website] [Schedule/Entries] [CrossCountry App XC Map]
US Events This Weekend
Ocala Winter II (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
Ram Tap National HT (CA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times/Scoring] [Volunteer]
Pine Top Spring HT (GA): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Scoring] [Volunteer]
Other Links and Reading
- Time is running out to enter our Horse Heroes contest with Five Star Eventing Tours! Enter here before the deadline of March 15 for your chance to win an all-inclusive VIP trip to this year’s Defender Burghley CCI5*.
- Also up for grabs (mildly less exciting than a Burghley trip, we admit): you could win an exclusive GPE t-shirt fresh from the LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field, signed by this year’s champion Phillip Dutton, two-winner GPE winner Will Coleman, Sydney Elliott and Ryan Wood. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Between the Flags to enter and we’ll draw a winner at the end of this month!
- Listen in to RideiQ’s Ask an Expert podcast, with this week’s episode featuring An Eventing Safety Crash Course with Jon Holling
- Straightness Is Not Just a Line: Why crooked horses can’t jump their best
- You are invited to the 2026 PATH Intl. Break to Educate Disability Series and Mentor Seminar Series
Training Tip of the Day
They say “perfect practice makes perfect”, but Lauren Billys Shady says “practice the imperfections”:
Go Eventing
It’s nearly Carolina week! Hang out with course builder Tyson Rementer to get a sneak peek at this year’s course for the Carolina International:
