Pierre Michelet is course-designer for Express Eventing

Pierre Michelet will make his cross-country course-designing debut in Britain at the Express Eventing International Cup in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on 30 November.

The renowned French designer is responsible for the track at Pau four-star this weekend and many riders have previously expressed a desire to see him work on this side of the Channel.

“It has been a really exciting opportunity,” said Pierre. “The course is designed to replicate traditional eventing, but with restricted distance and terrain. This is very different to other indoor courses. It is not designed to be about speed. The design ensures that accuracy is extremely important.

“In indoor cross-country it is more a speed class. Express Eventing is a much longer course, in an area about six times the size that is designed to encourage rhythm, balance and accuracy.”

The course will include three water features, a bank and several ditches and hedges, and has been designed in consultation with the event’s technical director Mike Tucker.

Di Boddy, show jumping designer at Burghley and Bramham, will design the show jumping track, which will have several optional routes.

Tina Cook to write diary for H&H online

Tina Cook will be writing a weekly diary on www.horseandhound.co.uk detailing her preparation for Express Eventing. Her first installment will go live next Thursday.

Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.