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Lucinda Green Weighs In On The One-fall Rule Updated: 2008-08-12
 Recently at an event I saw someone tightening theirs. They must have risked doing both buckles together because within split seconds the horse had reared and rider and saddle slid down the tail to the ground. The worst of it was that the horse then took off with the saddle bashing against its legs, still attached under its belly by the breastplate. It was heading in panic towards the horse boxes, when the attachment snapped and mercifully horse and saddle parted. HORSES ARE DANGEROUS. That is why the Pony Club spent so much time teaching us how to approach our pony, tie-up, pick out feet, and generally learn how to deal with between quarter and half a ton of living mass, capable of reactions quicker than the speed of light. Kicking at a fly can kill you - if your head is thoughtlessly in the way. Horses have been an integral part of life since we abandoned caves. They are in the human race's blood. They are capable of mastering more trades, worldwide, than any single other animal, and the reason they can do this is because they learn to TRUST human beings. Where I especially abhor the fall-off-and-out rule is in the trust and confidence area. How many times do you hear someone say that it all went wrong at a fence but, "he finished the rest really well"? That combination, despite a blip, came home with their trust and confidence restored, ready to fight another day. Now that same pair will have to walk home, heart and confidence in their boots, and the next time out they will be going more gingerly, more worried, less positively and therefore more dangerously. The only reason we all grew up being told to "Get back on as quick as you can" was because those wiser than us, knew how tenuous is confidence, how vital it is and how quickly it is destroyed. There is the occasional case of someone who should not have re-mounted because they are in fact concussed. (Princess Anne does not remember Goodwill's Montreal Olympic round after they had capsized.) If you legislate for every one-off incident, you will have a thicket of rules and a sparse sport. We know that horses cannot be made safe - don't try by bringing in rules capable of destroying the development of that most critical of all assets -- confidence. |
Education & Resources Shortcuts
SAFETY Resources
 Effect of Cross-Country on Event Horses Progress Report on Equine Exercise Physiology Study - Electrolytes and Heat/Humidity - Part IIIThis third report of the Equine Exercise Physiology Study will focus on some of the findings of the blood work in the competing horse. Blood samples were taken on the evening before cross-country and at the conclusion of the course. Eventing Safety Measures Introduced in 2008The USEF Eventing Safety Officer, chair of the USEF Eventing Technical Committee and the USEA’s Vice President of Competitions, Malcolm Hook, has prepared the following comprehensive list of safety measures that have been introduced in 2008. Rider Injury and Judging when to "Return to Play"Resources to help riders injured by an equine or non-equine accident deal with their injuries, getting back to riding and when to compete again. The Development of Equestrian Sports Medicine - Originally in USCTA News September/October 1997The field of sports medicine has existed for almost 2000 years with a medical manuscript of ancient India, dating from between 800 and 1000 B.C., recommending exercise and massage as therapies for chronic rheumatism. Beginning in 776 B.C., contests were The International Eventing Safety Committee Report- April 2000The Committee wishes to express its utmost gratitude to all those who gave evidence both written and oral, the amount of which indicates to the Committee the great concerns there are over the safety and future direction of the sport of Eventing. The United States Equestrian Federation - Ad Hoc Safety Task ForceReport and Recommendations - September 2007 SAFETY What's New
Plantation Field Horse Trials Hosts USEA Equine Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Research StudyPlantation Field Horse Trials in Unionville, Pennsylvania was the host site for the preliminary phase of the USEA Equine Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Research Study over the weekend of September 18-20. The USEA Equine Safety Task Force headed by Drs. Ken (October 9, 2009) Support USEA Team Safety: SafeT Shirts Available At USEA Web Store"SafeT's" are still on sale at the new USEA Web Store, located at ShopUSEA.com. Now ordering is easier than ever. Remember, ALL profits from the sale of Safe-Ts go to the USEA Safety Fund to support vital research, education, and safety programs. (June 30, 2009) USEF Watch List to Become Effective January 1Lexington, KY − The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Executive Committee approved the specifications for the Eventing Watch List on November 17, 2008. Born out of discussions at the USEF/USEA Safety Summit in June, the goal of the Watch Li (November 19, 2008) Lucinda Green Weighs In On The One-fall RuleLucinda Green, who will be a keynote speaker at the USEA Convention this December in New Orleans, has always been a thought-provoking commentator on our sport. (August 12, 2008) Attention All Active Competitors, Officials, and OrganizersEFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: the first fall of competitor, at obstacles, on the Cross-Country course will result in Elimination. (May 22, 2008) Sensors Pinpoint 'Faulty' ApproachEngineering graduates at Bristol University will be carrying out research at a series of horse trials as part of efforts to make the sport safer. (May 20, 2008) Captain Mark Phillips - Education is the Answer“Everyone has an opinion on the reasons behind the spate of bad eventing accidents. But no one has a solution — and I’m sure that’s because there isn’t one easy answer." (April 20, 2008) Education and Communication – the Key to a Safer Sport FEI Eventing Safety Forum, Copenhagen (DEN), 19 January 2008The sport of Eventing must reach new heights in education, experimentation, data collection and communication in its quest to reduce – or even eliminate - the risk of tragic accidents. (January 20, 2008) Safety Alert – Dealing with Icy FootingFor most of us, winter brings with it that delightful menu of snow, ice, and cold temperatures, all of which leads to unique horse management challenges. (January 17, 2008) USEF Forms Safety Task ForceThe USEF has formed a Task Force to review current safety procedures at USEF competitions and to make recommendations to the USEF Safety Committee regarding possible changes to safety standards for licensed competitions, regardless of breed or discipline. (June 12, 2007) |
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