March 24, 2024
Update your knowledge about vulnerable technologies
Did you know that the United States has more frangible fences than any other country? Fragile technology was first introduced by the FEI in 2013 with approval for the MIM clip, but from 2016 to 2018 Fragile fencing research has continued for the past 10 years, including the USEA Collapsible Fence Technology Study conducted through the university.
The USEA Foundation is proud to have focused on the continued research and promotion of these critical safety devices across the United States. In 2020, an initiative to help build fragile things was created in partnership with the USEA Foundation's Fragile Technology Fund. Fences are installed on cross-country courses that are at or above the qualifying level nationwide. New regulations from 1 December 2023 will require courses at training level and above to utilize fragile technology, as seen in the excerpt from the General Horse Racing Rulebook below.
8. Fragile technology.
a. Whenever possible, obstacles where frangible technology (e.g., frangible pins, MIM clips, other load reduction devices) is appropriate should be constructed or modified using frangible technology. training Above level.
b. The Technical Delegate must confirm with the Grounds Jury and Course Designer that the frangible technology adopted is consistent with the applicable manual for approved frangible technology. Fragile technical equipment used in national events and his FEI events must, at a minimum, meet his FEI updated standards for fragile/deformable cross-country fences. Training fences installed before May 1st In 2023, you can leave it as is until December 31, 2023, but after January 1, 2024, you must upgrade or renovate it to meet this rule. All fences constructed after May 1, 2023 must meet this rule.
To help ease the cost of this effort for your event, organizers can apply for funding through the Foundation's Fragile Technologies Fund here. Venues hosting events below the advanced level will be awarded $2,000. Venues hosting events at Intermediate, Preliminary, Modified level and below will receive $1,500. Venues hosting events below the training level will receive $1,000. All grants will be used to purchase materials (wood, fragile technical equipment, etc.) to support the construction of fragile fences on cross-country courses. The Foundation strongly encourages each event to apply for this funding.
To further support the importance of using this equipment, the FEI conducted a study of horse falls by type of fence, using data collected from 2016 to 2023, and found that weak technology can lead to horse falls. was shown to decrease. For example, in his seven years, a total of 1914 horse falls were recorded around the world. Of these falls, 1,703 were on fences without frangible technology, and only 211 of his falls were on fences with frangible technology. Of the 51 serious horse falls that occurred during this period, only one fall occurred on a fence equipped with the new standard frangible technology, four falls occurred on a fence equipped with the old standard fragile technology, and There were 46 falls due to fences without fences. The full FEI report can be accessed here.
Click here to learn more about the USEA Foundation's commitment to creating safer sports by making fragile technology more accessible in USEA competitions.
About the USEA Foundation
The fundamental mission of the USEA Foundation is to protect and preserve competitive horse racing for future generations and to provide support for USEA's core education, safety and equine welfare programs. In addition, the Foundation provides educational grants to riders with the goal of preparing them to achieve their goals. For more information about the USEA Foundation, please visit www.useafoundation.org.
