From Competitor to Course Designer: Derek di Grazia's Journey to Morven Park

With just days remaining until the US Open Final at Morven Park, course designer Derek di Grazia is putting the finishing touches on what promises to be another challenging test for the 38 horse-and-rider combinations entered in the competition.

For di Grazia, whose courses are consistently praised by riders for bringing out the best in their horses, the journey to Morven Park represents both a return to his roots and a showcase of one of America's most spectacular venues.

Listen to Derek di Grazia on the US Equestrian Open Podcast now.

Early Inspiration at Pebble Beach

Di Grazia's love affair with eventing began at the 1969 US Open at Pebble Beach, California. 

"The biggest thing that really impressed me was just watching what these horses did because I had just never seen anything like it.”

That competition, featuring legendary names like the Woffords, the Plumbs, and Kevin Freeman, showcased the sport at its highest level on the West Coast. The young di Grazia was hooked, drawn to the stories of how "rugged and difficult” the sport was.

His early riding education was comprehensive, encompassing not just eventing but polo, fox hunting, and show jumping. The transition from West to East Coast came during his college years at Georgetown University, where he began training with the legendary Jimmy Wofford. His breakthrough moment came at Ledyard Farm in 1977, competing in poor conditions against top European riders.

"It was pouring rain and very, very wet for the cross country, but we were one of the few that made it inside the time on the cross country and we ended up actually in fourth place at the end."

That result gave him confidence that he could make it in this sport - setting the stage for a successful competitive career that would eventually inform his approach to course design.

A Horse-First Philosophy

Going back to his years in the saddle, Di Grazia understands firsthand the immense work required to bring a horse to top-level competition and he's acutely aware of how vulnerable these horses are to injury. Because of this, horse welfare remains at the forefront of every decision he makes when designing his cross-country courses. This philosophy drives every decision he makes: 

"In the end for me, it's about making these courses so that they are fair for the horses and that as much as possible trying to make the ground conditions - the wear and tear on the horses - as minimal as possible."

The Art and Science of Design

Each venue presents unique challenges and opportunities, something that keeps di Grazia passionate about his craft.

"Every venue is different. We all know that. And so they all sort of require different things. And to me, that's what makes course design actually exciting for me, because there's new things you can do in different places and just the way you use the ground."

Derek also emphasizes that course design is far from a solo effort, highlighting the builders and decorators who bring his vision to life and ultimately make the course look its best.

Discovering Morven Park's Potential

When di Grazia first visited Morven Park as a course designer, he was immediately struck by the venue's possibilities.

“It was so wonderful to be able to come and see this place and see the venue. But you know, I just start thinking about,  four longs and, and, know, even five star, I mean, just like you start looking at this ground and you start drooling because it's just such an amazing place”

The venue's placement in the calendar had historically limited its exposure, often conflicting with other major competitions. But since the introduction of the CCI4*-L format in 2021, di Grazia has seen riders rediscover this historic venue and watched the quality of the entries improving year on year.

What to Expect at Morven Park

Derek has proven he can build tough time tests, most recently having only one rider making the time over his track at Burghley. Historically, Morven Park sees an average of 10% of starters finish inside the optimum time. With a field of 38 competitors, we can expect 3 to 4 riders inside the time. However, it has varied from year-to-year, with 25% making the time last year.

With Morven Park hosting the inaugural US Equestrian Open of Eventing, we can expect that the challenge is set to be anything but easy - a true test across all three phases designed to ensure the strongest combination is crowned the champion.

Listen to Derek di Grazia on the US Equestrian Open Podcast now.

Don't Miss Out on Bragging Rights

With the US Eq. Open, Boekelo, Maryland, and Pau all packed into October, it’s the biggest month yet on Eventing Manager 2.0. Four big events and four massive chances to score points - but only one can take the crown. Can you rise above the rest and be crowned Manager of the Month?

Play Eventing Manager 2.0 here.

Stay Connected with the US Equestrian Open

The final of the US Equestrian Open is running at Morven Park in Leesburg, Virginia from the 9th-12th of October. It is the culmination of the series that has been running at CCI4*-S competitions in the US over the past year. With $200,000 on the line in prize money, it is going to be an exciting and competitive competition.

If you want to know more about the US Equestrian Open:

• Follow the Instagram page: @usequestrianopen
• Listen to the podcast: The US Equestrian Open Podcast
• Check out the website: usequestrianopen.org