Alec Lochore: Reinvention, Responsibility, and Designing the LA 2028 Cross-Country Course

This Week on In Stride Sinead Halpin-Maynard talks with Alec Lochore, who is serving as the official cross-country course designer for eventing at the LA 2028 Olympics for the first time in his career, about what the Games mean to the sport and how he ended up designing its biggest stage.Meet the Guest: Alec Lochore Alec Lochore is a veteran eventing official who has worked the Olympics in Beijing, London, Rio, and Tokyo in various technical and management roles. Raised in a horse family in Scotland, he competed through five-star level before shifting into event organizing, co-founding Musketeer with his brother Hugh, a business that has since run more than 150 events, including Blair Castle and now Scone Palace.In This Episode, Sinead and Alec Discuss:What makes the Olympics a singular stage for a niche sport, and how Alec ended up as LA28's cross-country course designerHis design philosophy, including building in options at varying difficulty and honoring what an MER (Minimum Eligibility Requirement) is actually meant to certifyBehind-the-scenes details on building the Santa Anita cross-country track, from turf challenges to licensing restrictions on course "theming"The shared responsibility between course designers, riders, and officials for horse welfare, and his advice for lower-level riders on reading what a course is askingEpisode SponsorConnaway & Associates The friendly and knowledgeable team at Connaway & Associates brings together more than 30 years of experience to offer a wide range of insurance services, including horse insurance, farm insurance, and liability insurance.Visit www.connaway.net or call 501-868-8084 to explore your options.Equine Emergency Vet Care Guide Created by equine veterinarian Dr. Erica Lacher, the Equine Emergency Vet Care Guide app helps horse owners recognize the signs of a true emergency, know when to call the vet, and understand what to do while help is on the way.Download from the App Store or Google Play at EquineEmergencyApp.comIn Stride Is Brought to You by Ride iQRide iQ helps everyday riders ride with more clarity, confidence, and purpose through on-demand audio lessons from world-class coaches.Members also get:Weekly live Q&As with equestrian expertsExclusive podcast episodesDressage test prep resourcesA supportive learning communityStart your free 14-day trial at Ride-iQ.com