Introducing Maryland 5 Star Course Designer Pierre Le Goupil, continued...
rider at that high level to be a designer at that level too,” he said. “A designer needs to be able to visualize how the horses will see the fences and ask the questions that are realistic but chal- lenging.” Even though Le Goupil de-
signs at the upper levels, he feels the concepts of course design ap- ply across all levels. “You need to be creative but within the stan- dards at any level,” he said, add- ing, “Our courses must be safe but safe does not mean easy. Too easy and horses will flatten and jump unsafe, or riders will not respect the fences.” Le Goupil went on to say, “cross-country is all about the terrain. Cross- country is not a bunch of boxes in a row. It is the use of the ter- rain that makes the horses clever and the riders should be light in their seat but effective.”
Maryland 5 Star With the Olympics behind
course, which he is taking over from retired course designer Ian Stark. “I’ve already spoken with Ian [Stark] and builder Tyson [Rementer] virtually and will be on site for the first time this October during the five-star,” Le Goupil
“Upon announcing my retirement, there was
obviously going to be a new designer, and I’m thrilled for the event that Pierre will be the new man,” Stark said in a Maryland 5 Star press re- lease earlier this year, adding, “He has the tal- ent, the imagination, and the flair to succeed, and I look forward to following his plans for the future of the course.” Stark will act as Le Goupil’s of-
ficial advisor as per FEI require- ments. “We all need to have some- one to speak with and advise and bounce ideas off of,” Le Goupil said. “And Ian knows the facility really well. I want my courses to have the same spirit.” More work on the course will
Maryland-bred Wundermaske galloping across the 2024 Olympic Eventing cross-country course designed by Pierre Le Goupil on the grounds of the Pal- ace of Versailles.
him, but many other international events still on the 2024 calendar, Le Goupil has already begun work on the 2025 Maryland 5 Star
said. “Different designers mean different ideas, but we need to also continue with the legacy of the previous designer.”
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begin after this year’s event over the winter with Le Goupil expect- ing to make at least four site visits leading up to the 2025 event. “It really is all an amazing dream,” Le Goupil said. “Little by little I’ve made connections [in this sport] that have allowed me to see the
world as I always wanted to do.”
0320
FEI/Benjamin Clark
0624
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