Modest and equipped with a dry sense of humor, Malcolm Hook has set the standard (albeit a high one) for announcing and controlling events. His name adorns countless eventing committee lists, and those who know him sing his praises, but the technical delegate from Aurora, Ore., is just a man who loves what he does.

With the exciting and often controversial changes occurring in the eventing world these days, Hook is more driven and enthusiastic about the sport than ever.

His introduction to eventing happened in 1970. “I had nothing to do with horses until I had the bad sense to fall in love with a horsewoman,” Hook said smiling.

That young woman, Julie Costello, became his wife, and her passion for eventing soon rubbed off on him.
Hook began riding recreationally, but once touched by the sport he took an interest in pursuing a more active role. He was particularly influenced by Julie’s late brother, Pete Costello, course builder of the first four-star Rolex Kentucky course and an active TD in the 1970s.

In 1976, Hook acquired his own TD card—the first step.

“At that time there were only three TDs in the western United States,” said Hook, recalling his decision to become a TD. “Being young and involved in the competitive side, we thought no one knew what they were doing.”

Naturally, the role and effectiveness of the technical delegate has grown up with the sport. “The learning curve has steepened considerably since [the ‘70s]. You learn something new each time you go to a competition. If you are at least minimally aware of what’s going on out there, you never stop learning,” he said.

More than 30 years later, Hook still enjoys learning as a Fédération Equestre Internationale Eventing Chief Steward and U.S. Equestrian Federation R-rated TD, announcing and controlling about 20 competitions in the western United States each year.

Hook said he stays actively involved with eventing because of the people.

“There are so many amateurs in this sport, and this is their recreation. It creates the atmosphere. They want to go out and have fun and not get hurt. When they have a great day you can see it on their faces,” he said.

The Human Element
As a TD, Hook evaluates several different factors at each competition: the physical conditions of the facility, the design and flow of the cross-country course and the appropriateness of the levels. He also looks at the organizational aspect and ability of the facility to handle competitors.

His first-hand experience with the participants at events has provided him with a realistic impression of
the relationships between all the people involved. He’s constantly looking to ease tensions and create more unity between differing groups of people.

“Human factor is enormous. It’s so easy for things to degenerate into chaos and confrontation. We tend to see ourselves as three adversarial roles: officers, competitors, and organizers, but each one has the same goal. They all want a successful competition that provides learning experiences for both horses and riders where no one gets hurt and for everyone to go home pleased at the end of the weekend,” said Hook.

U.S. Eventing Association President and close friend Kevin Baumgardner has worked with Hook for 12 years and readily believes that Hook has elevated the role of the announcer and TD.

“Malcolm has the ability to bring an event together with a whole bunch of people on different lines and walkie-talkies. He’s a master of working with that and communicating the needed information to people. He’s simply the best,” said Baumgardner.

Baumgardner went on to label Hook a master of communicating. “Something so important right now is having people who communicate. He takes it upon himself to go that extra mile to make people feel comfortable.”

And people certainly feel comforted when they hear Hook’s voice over the P.A. system at events. “He is unfailingly considerate, polite and patient in dealing with people who have inquiries and questions,” said Baumgardner.

Robert Kellerhouse, president of Del Mar Eventing Inc., has known Hook for more than 25 years and works with him at several West Coast events. He understands the challenges of organizing and running a successful event and believes that Hook is the best of the best at what he does.

“Many people picture Malcolm as an announcer, but it’s a small portion of what he does during a show. He’s a horse controller—one of the most important people you have with your event—and has the ability to keep focused on everything. Malcolm is beyond professional,” said Kellerhouse.

The level of comfort and trust people have in Hook is also due to the fact that he has such a deep understanding of the rules of the sport. He’s considered by many to be the unofficial sport historian.

“Malcolm is an amazing resource in terms of the rules and how they’ve evolved,” said Baumgardner. “When there are issues involving the interpretation of rules or proposed changes, everyone calls him. He’s always there when we need him, and that’s what we need in this sport.”

Hook also hosts a rules forum each year at the USEA Annual Meeting.

An Active Role
Hook’s influence and contribution to the sport spans much farther than the individual events at which he officiates. He first got involved with eventing organizations in the late 1970s and was a founding member of the Oregon Combined Training Association.

“Being involved in governance was a natural progression. I wanted to have a say in the conditions under which I make my living. I want to be a part of the process,” said Hook, who, although not outspoken, is the first to share his opinions about issues circulating around the sport he loves.

Since 1996, Hook has been on the USEF Eventing Committee, served as the USEA Vice President of Competit-ions, and been elected chairman of the USEF Eventing Technical Committee, of which he is now in his fourth year.

“[USEF President] David O’Connor found out that I would say ‘yes’ and has since involved me in many things,” Hook added lightly, but not without some truth, while listing off his countless positions with the USEF and USEA.

After the FEI Safety Forum in Copenhagen, Denmark, in January, Hook attached to his already lengthy resume the position of National Safety Officer of Eventing.

The patience and concern demonstrated by Hook at events are the same characteristics that have earned him places on so many committees and boards.

“Malcolm is very levelheaded and disinterested in the sense that he rarely takes sides. He gives you a real honest baseline interpretation of where things come from. He really is invaluable,” said Baumgardner.

With his involvement in all these committees, Hook is actively working on the issue of safety, the direction the sport is going, why some of the recent accidents have occurred, and what can be done to improve the sport. As a member of the Task Force, in particular, Hook and others are working toward improvements in relation to course design, speed and qualification. He admitted that it’s an all-consuming job.

The recent pressure he’s experienced in dealing with safety issues hasn’t been particularly enjoyable for Hook, but he’s pleased with the direction the sport is heading. Steps such as mandating frangible jump cup pins and implementing a “de-qualification” process—where horses with poor results at a level have to move down—are necessary to keep eventing safe. Exploring different ways of dealing with problems is a challenge that Hook welcomes with open arms.

“We have had to think beyond traditional remedies. Eventing has gone from being an experience-based sport where people come from a variety of equestrian backgrounds. Now it’s often people’s first competitive experience, and they don’t have the background of those competing 40 years ago,” said Hook.

The amount of time and effort Hook puts into keeping an event safe, organized and fun can often go unnoticed or be taken for granted. Regardless, Hook always goes the extra mile.

“Eventing is a difficult sport to deal with,” said Kellerhouse. “We’re working long, 12-hour days. For Malcolm, it has little to do with the money and everything to do with the sport.”

If Hook had much free time, however, he confessed that he wouldn’t know what to do with it. He and his wife also manage and run their 64-acre Continental Farm in Aurora, Ore., that stables more than 40 horses. When not working at an event or attending a meeting, Hook spends time at the farm with the people and horses (and a good book) that he loves.

Through his involvement behind the scenes, Hook has accomplished what almost all people desire: turning one’s passion into a career.

“I adore the sport, always have, and love the people who event. They are some of the nicest people I know,” he said.

And these people would surely say the same of him.

“Malcolm has been one of the real great resources, the go-to guy in our sport, and is a pleasure to work with,” said Baumgardner. “He’s a very hard-working, passionate individual and a lot of fun.”

Alexandra Beckstett