Frangible fences, new knowledge on eventing horse falls and what the longer term holds

Frangible fences are having a “vital optimistic” impact on eventing security – however extra improvement is required to take the game even additional forwards.

Main figures mentioned the most recent knowledge and the place progress could possibly be made to extend affect and retain the essence of cross-country, whereas breaking new floor in eventing security.

Dr David Vos, a rider, aviation engineer, frangible gadget professional and danger administration steering group member, informed the FEI eventing seminar on 20 January that 90% of significant horse falls are occurring at non-frangible fences.

“Round 8% are occurring at frangible fences that have been constructed to the outdated normal, and someplace round 1% or 2% are occurring at fences constructed to the brand new normal we launched in 2021,” he stated.

“It’s not that there’s a gigantic, principal driver, but when we have a look at the distribution, you’ve sq. spreads, rolltops, brush fences, ascending spreads and corners capturing someplace within the order of 70% to 80% of the intense horse falls by fence sort.”

Dr Vos careworn that the game must give attention to upgrading outdated frangible fences and increasing the usage of frangibles “throughout the sphere”.

“It simply has to occur,” he stated. ”It’s in all probability the one method we are able to make a critical distinction in slicing down the horse fall charge.

“We have to proceed growing, shifting ahead at a fairly wholesome clip to get extra frangible options obtainable and a much bigger pool of obtainable units for course-designers to make use of.

“The push wants to stay very robust as a result of we have to get that 90% non-frangible fence quantity method down, in order that we are able to speak extra about how frangibles are literally performing, and we’re not overwhelmingly pushed by the truth that critical horse falls are occurring at non-frangible fences.”

Course-designer Mike Etherington-Smith cautioned in opposition to measuring like for like in relation to falls at frangible and non-frangible fences, including that falls are multifactorial and different components must be considered.

Dr Vos added: “Crucial level right here is that every one these different components are critically essential. However we’re coping with a state of affairs the place we now have a mistake that has occurred and is there a strategy to cut back the chance of a critical horse harm or fall?”

Course-designer Stuart Buntine stated that there’s “a lot work in progress” round frangible choices and options for fences corresponding to heavy logs and tables, rolltops and brush fences.

“Frangible fences are having a very vital optimistic impact and we should proceed to drive that forwards,” he stated.

Badminton course-designer Eric Winter touched on whether or not frangibles and flags might have a extra enhanced and refined place in competitors scoring, whereas eager to emphasize this shouldn’t be a “knee-jerk” choice.

For instance, specializing in flags, shifting pondering in direction of riders getting one of the best line and strategy to fences being rewarded with a clear sheet. Whereas those that didn’t arrange in addition to they may have and take a flag aren’t essentially out of rivalry for a high spot, however do carry two or three penalties.

“We will’t simply have ever-decreasing cross-country programs the place everyone jumps clear and nothing occurs, as a result of that’s not a sport that we are able to promote in any method,” he stated.

“We’re taking a look at horses successful competitions by way of small margins – and that’s a optimistic factor, that’s elite sport.”

He added that it’s “not acceptable in any method” to see horses fall, horses are actually so educated to lock onto a line and never take into consideration stopping, so the place does eventing go to maintain the game fascinating?

“We will’t have cross-country programs the place everyone jumps clear, however I personally assume that if we begin to develop a thought course of across the flags, that could possibly be a really thrilling sport,” he stated.

“One other query we now have to ask is, what we worth in regards to the sport these days – what are the issues we need to hold? Is it that we should soar mounted fences? We should go to battle and win? As a result of to me that’s not what I maintain expensive in regards to the sport.

“I would like the horses to be galloping within the open, assembly several types of fences. It’s crucial we hold an excellent number of fences, that we hold utilizing the terrain, so that each course has its personal nature to it, and it makes use of the character of that web site.

“However how will we do this inside acceptable parameters that may permit our sport to journey ahead within the subsequent 10,15 years in a really wholesome method?”

Olympic gold medallist and eventing committee chairman David O’Connor concluded: “These are the massive conversations all of us have to have.”

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H&H senior information author

Lucy is an skilled information journalist, reporter and presenter. Since becoming a member of the Horse & Hound staff in 2015, Lucy has reported from main international sporting occasions together with the Tokyo Paralympic Video games and a number of European Championships, in addition to Badminton, Burghley and London, to call a couple of. She has coated present affairs and sports activities information throughout the complete spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, in addition to human and equine welfare, trade information and courtroom circumstances.