ABOUT THIS EPISODE
“Where Eventing Lives”
Welcome back to Go Eventing, the podcast where the heart, soul, and stories of the eventing world come to life. This week, we're pulling back the curtain on the side of the sport that competitors depend on, but rarely receive an inside look at. From the judge's booth to the horse inspection strip, the licensed officials who keep eventing running safely and fairly carry enormous responsibility, so we're shining the spotlight on someone who knows the ins and outs of this high-pressure world — as well as what it's like to be the one cantering down the centerline.
Whether you're a seasoned competitor trying to crack the code on your dressage scores, an up-and-coming rider working through the levels, or simply a fan who's ever wondered what's happening inside the booth, this conversation is one you won't want to miss.
__________________________________________________________________________
🔎What’s Inside Season 2, Episode 3?
Host Sally Spickard sits down with FEI judge, Olympian, and long-time eventing official Peter Gray for a zoomed-out conversation on what it takes to uphold the standards of our sport at the highest level. Peter brings a rare dual perspective, having competed at the top of the sport and now judging it as an official — making him uniquely positioned to speak to both the rider's experience and the judge's eye. From the nuances of progressive dressage scoring to the mental resilience required to make split-second decisions during cross country, Peter offers practical insight for riders at every level while pulling back the curtain on what officiating at the FEI level truly demands.
🔥In This Episode, We Cover...
- 00:25 - News & Notes: Maryland 5 Star update, Carolina International, & the Road to the Horse
Sally talks through the recent cancellation of the 2026 Maryland 5 Star and what that means for the US and worldwide sport calendar for this year. The EN team had boots on the ground at the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International CCI & HT, where West-coast queen Tamie Smith swept the board with wins in the CCI2*-S, 3*-S, and 4*-S, so listen in to an interview with Sally and the champion herself regarding her current horses and her plans out East. We also bring you an exclusive phone interview with Elisa Wallace following her second-place finish at the 2026 Road to the Horse World Championship -- where she may have left without an empty trailer!
[Road to the Horse YouTube replays]
[Full interview with Carolina International CCI1* winner Lee Maher (and Chris Talley)]
[Full interview with Carolina International CCI 2*, 3*, & 4* winner Tamie Smith]
- 30:44 - One Big Thing: Rider, Judge, & Jury Life
Peter leads us through the world of FEI officiating, both what it looks like from the inside and what it means for the competitors. He walks through the judging process at the FEI level, how horse inspections are conducted, what officials are truly evaluating during a ground jury assessment, and how technology is increasingly shaping the way dressage scores are recorded and reviewed. He shares practical, level-appropriate guidance rooted in the principles of progressive training and patient horse development, emphasizing that what earns scores at 5* is the same foundation being built at Beginner Novice. He and Sally explore how the evolution of eventing as a discipline has shifted both training philosophies and judging standards over time, and what role coaches and officials play in keeping that development on track. Peter also speaks candidly about the mental demands of officiating, the pressure of real-time decision-making during cross country, how officials process and manage uncertainty, and what it means to carry responsibility for the safety and fairness of the sport at its highest level — because in the end, it's all about the horse.
[Listen in to Peter Grey on Ride iQ's In Stride Podcast]
[USEF Licensed Officials requirements]
- 2:07:20 - Finish Flags
Follow along with Peter Gray!
Instagram: @peterscottgray
🎧 Tune In to Eventing Everywhere with EN
Head over to EventingNation.com to read all the latest from all levels of eventing across the globe. Connect with us @goeventing, or you can reach us anytime at podcast@eventingnation.com.
📌 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Go Eventing wherever you get your podcasts! Let's keep building this community together.
#GoEventing #EventingNation #WhereEventingLives
__________________________________________________________________________
The Go Eventing Podcast powered by Eventing Nation is your front-row seat to the heartbeat of eventing. From exclusive athlete interviews to behind-the-scenes insights, we bring you closer to the horses, riders, and stories that make our sport unforgettable.
Our vision: Celebrate the stories of eventing while connecting fans, riders, and supporters worldwide.
What makes us different:
Rider-first conversations
Honest, unfiltered stories
🧑🤝🧑 A community-driven approach
