Change Sport
FEI Press Relase 17 January 2010
A new worldwide Eventing Risk Management Policy and Action Plan aimed at reducing cross-country horse falls was launched at the third annual FEI Safety meeting in Malmö, Sweden, today. Based on a six-year statistical study of the sport, the Action Plan will be a functional and reliable system that will be used to monitor risk factors in Eventing, and to streamline international data and ideas to further understand the root causes of falls.
The FEI Eventing Committee has set the target to reduce horse falls by 10% (and by 20% at 4-star level) over the next three years. Already, data for the period from 2004-2009 shows that, despite a significant increase in the popularity of the sport – a 35% increase in the number of competitions and a 22.5% increase in the total number of starters – the percentage of horse falls has decreased from 2.02% to 1.73%. This is the first time that a statistical database has monitored the sport on a global basis.
The Action Plan includes:
· Statistical database, to include medical and veterinary data on falls
· A standardised template to achieve consistency in the collection of international data (this will be produced twice a year)
· Compulsory appointment of a National Safety Officer (NSO) by all countries organising international Eventing fixtures to collate statistics and gather information for the FEI in the event of a serious accident
· FEI guidelines on cross-country course design aimed at minimizing risk
· Continuing work on frangible pins and deformable structures for cross-country fences
· Education of everyone involved in the sport of eventing – riders, officials and course designers; risk management will become an integral part of all national seminars
· Increased focus and education about the definition of dangerous riding
· Twenty-two nations were represented at the NSOs’ seminar in Malmö, where delegates demonstrated the greatly heightened awareness of risk management shown over the last two years and also the continually evolving nature of Eventing.
· Steps taken include trials with and the patenting of deformable devices in Sweden, Britain, Canada, Netherlands and Italy; initiatives by the German and Czech Republic National Federations to teach riders safer falling techniques; emphasis on style in competitions in Canada and Germany; rider licensing, exams and rule changes in France; twice yearly medical examinations in Poland and a fitness badge in Germany, plus several other national projects.
· Canada’s National Safety Officer Peter Gray commented: “The forum has exceeded my expectations and it will make my job easier. The presentations from each country were really useful - it’s a great opportunity to see how the sport is developing worldwide and to share problems and ideas.”
To read the whole press release, go to: http://www.fei.org/MEDIA/NEWS_CENTRE/NEWS/Pages/summ.aspx?newsName=news-EventingSafety-17Jan10.aspx&inc=0
