BS Course Building Rules: A Practical Overview for Designers

BS Course Building Rules: A Practical Overview

British Showjumping publishes detailed course-building guidance alongside the Table of Distances. Whether you are building a discovery round or a Foxhunter track, three principles recur: safe take-off and landing, rideable related distances, and progressive difficulty.

The Table of Distances

BS distances assume a canter stride of roughly 3.5 m (12 ft) with standard take-off and landing allowances. Related lines are quoted in strides; long and short options are noted for course walkers.

When you design digitally, compare your measured line against the table for the declared height and class grade.

Combinations and spreads

• Combinations must not exceed the maximum number of elements for the class.
• Spreads have width limits per grade — an oxer that is too wide for the level is a common course inspection failure.
• Planks and fragile fences need appropriate cups and support for the height.

Water jumps

Approach and exit must be level. The water itself needs adequate depth and width per the rule book; training venues sometimes use reduced trays — never assume a training obstacle meets affiliated spec without checking.

Builder checklist

1. Confirm arena size and surface.
2. Set height and grade in your design tool.
3. Validate every related distance.
4. Walk the course as a rider would ride it, not as the crow flies.
5. Sign off with the technical delegate before numbers go on the fences.

Good course building is invisible to spectators — riders simply feel they can gallop and turn fairly. That starts with knowing the rules cold.