May 9, 2023 – Ocala, FL – An international roster of the world’s best course designers is set to lay the tracks in the WEC Grand Arena for the 2023 Ocala Summer Series at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC). The nine-week hunter/jumper show series sanctioned by US Equestrian (USEF) begins June 13 and runs through August 13, kicking off with four weeks of Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) CSI3* competition during weeks II through V from June 13 through July 9, 2023. Please note, the 2023 Ocala Summer Series begins with Week II.
The lineup of esteemed show jumping architects who will set the tracks in the WEC Grand Arena for the third annual 2023 Ocala Summer Series includes Andy Christiansen (ECU), Guilherme Jorge (BRA), Alan Wade (IRL), Peter Grant (CAN), Tucker Williams (USA), Catsy Cruz (MEX) and Doug Russell (USA).
FEI Level III course designer Andy Christiansen of Ecuador will design during the opening FEI CSI3* of the 2023 Ocala Summer Series. Christiansen is an accomplished hunter, jumper and equitation designer. He has assisted in course design at prestigious events such as the Pan American Games, FEI World Equestrian Games and South American Games. Christiansen made his debut appearance at World Equestrian Center – Ocala during last year’s 2022 Ocala Summer Series.
Guilherme Jorge of Brazil, an FEI Level IV course designer, will lead the FEI class course designing duties during week III as well as the national classes during Week X. Jorge is a lauded designer from some of the largest championships around the globe including the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; the 2005 and 2007 FEI Jumping World Cup™ Finals; the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; numerous CSI5* events at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Canada; and most recently, the $500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI5* in Wellington, Florida.
International courses during week IV will be set by FEI Level IV course designer Alan Wade of Ireland. Wade’s impressive resume includes the 2017 FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Omaha, Nebraska; the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Tryon, North Carolina; and the Palm Beach Masters CSI4*-W featuring the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ in Wellington, Florida. This will be the third time Wade has set the international tracks at World Equestrian Center – Ocala where athletes applauded his technical and unique builds.
Canadian Peter Grant returns to World Equestrian Center – Ocala to design courses for the final week of FEI CSI3* competition during Week V of the Summer Series and will set the national tracks during week VII. The FEI Level III designer is best known for being part of the design team at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Canada, since 2004, where he built CSI5* competition courses. Grant has assisted at elite championships including the 2007 and 2017 FEI Jumping World Cup™ Finals, the 2010 and 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ and at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
FEI Level II course designer Tucker Williams of the United States will create the courses in the WEC Grand Arena during Week VI of the 2023 Ocala Summer Series. Williams is well known for his creation of jumps through his business GetJumps.com, which has supplied quality fences to the nation’s most prestigious venues. He has designed at elite horse shows across the United States and Canada such as Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, Canada, Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, HITS Horse Shows, Triangle Farms Duke Show in Raleigh, North Carolina and the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Williams also serves as a resident designer at World Equestrian Center – Ocala.
Exhibitor favorite Anna Catalina “Catsy” Cruz of Mexico will design for week VIII. The skilled FEI Level III course designer with more than two decades of course building experience has built for international competitions such as Winter Equestrian Festival, HITS Saugerties, Traverse City Horse Shows, as well as in Kentucky and San Juan Capistrano, California. She assisted the course design at the 2022 Las Vegas National CSI4*-W in Nevada and has worked with the biggest designers in history, such as Arno Gego, Bob Ellis, Leopoldo Palacios and Frank Rothenberger at competitions in Monterrey, Mexico; Aachen, Germany; Hickstead, England; and Calgary, Canada.
FEI Level II course designer Doug Russell of the USA will create the tracks in the WEC Grand Arena during the penultimate Week IX of the series. Russell, a top national show jumper and trainer himself, has been a USEF-licensed course designer since 1991. He has designed at historic competitions such as the Devon Horse Show in Devon, Pennsylvania, and held design duties at Saratoga in New York for nine years. Russell is now a resident designer at World Equestrian Center – Ocala, creating premier tracks in every arena.
Show jumping exhibitors and fans can look forward to making the 2023 Ocala Summer Series the best yet!
About World Equestrian Center
World Equestrian Center features two premier equestrian and multidisciplinary venues in Ocala, Florida, and Wilmington, Ohio.
These exclusive facilities comprise state-of-the-art arenas, expansive stadiums, versatile outdoor space, sporting fields and well-appointed exposition centers. An abundance of lodging options and luxury accommodations are conveniently located on-site, along with shopping and dining throughout each property.
Dedicated to offering great sport and good fun in a family-friendly environment, World Equestrian Center promises an unparalleled experience for exhibitors, spectators, vendors, sponsors and retailers built on three core values: Quality. Class. Distinction.
Learn more at wec.net.