Successful Conclusion of the EEF National Officials Education Training

The European Equestrian Federation (EEF) successfully concluded its first national Dressage and Eventing  judges education course with an in-person training weekend, marking a significant milestone in the development of equestrian officials across Europe. The course was organised with the support of FEI Solidarity.

The journey began five months ago with an online education course that saw an impressive enrolment of 232 participants. This comprehensive online program covered five essential learning modules, providing a robust foundation for aspiring officials. The modules covered the scales of training in detail before looking at the skills required for Pony, Children and Junior judging, alongside higher level Prix St Georges/Int.

Following the completion of the online course and online judging and theory exams, a select group of 39 participants was invited to an in-person training weekend in Bulgaria as part of the CDI Plovdiv. These intensive sessions aimed to deepen their knowledge and practical skills through three additional modules. The in-person training focused on advanced judging techniques, real-time event simulations, and hands-on workshops led by FEI judges and course directors Hans-Kristian Matthiesen and Maarten van der Heijden.

By following the live action, participants gained valuable insights and build connections within the equestrian community. The EEF’s commitment to high-quality education and professional development was evident throughout the course, ensuring that the officials are well-prepared to contribute to the sport at the national level.

Participants expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to engage in such a comprehensive and well-structured program. “The in-person training was incredibly beneficial. It allowed us to apply what we learned online in a real-world setting and receive immediate feedback from experts,” said Daria Paliciuc from Romania.

EEF Secretary General Teodor Sheytanov said “Officials are a vital part of our sport and we cannot compete without them. We have noticed a decline in the number of new officials entering the sport or progressing up through the levels of the sport. The EEF wanted to help target this by providing more opportunities to educate officials, improving standards, and increasing the confidence of each individual to continue in his or her role.”

The education courses would not have been possible without the partnership and cooperation of the three tutors, Katrina Wuest, Hans-Kristian Matthiesen and Maarten van der Heijden, and the team from BlackHorseOne – Daniel Gohlen, Lena Aerdker and Cora Causemann.

“Immediately at the start I was surprised by the big number of interested participants. That means that there is a big need for more knowledge in many European NF’s. As we assessed the candidates after the four online sessions, the level during the in-person course was high. I am delighted that I could contribute to this great initiative of EEF as a course director".
Maarten van der Heijden

The EEF plans to continue offering educational initiatives to support the growth and development of equestrian officials. For the next year we will start programs for jumping and endurance course designers.