On Jan. 17, the Fédération Equestre Internationale launched a new worldwide eventing risk management policy and action plan at the third annual safety meeting in Malmö, Sweden.  

The plan will monitor risk factors and streamline international data and ideas in order to understand and analyze the root causes of falls. The target is to reduce horse falls by 10 percent (and by 20 percent at the CCI**** level) over the next three years.

Data for the period from 2004-2009 showed that, despite a significant increase in the popularity of the sport—a 35 percent increase in the number of competitions and a 22.5 percent increase in the total number of starters—the percentage of horse falls has decreased from 2.02 percent to 1.73 percent. This is the first time that a statistical database has monitored the sport on a global basis.

“Eventing is and will remain a risk sport. Our duty is to manage that risk,” explained Italy’s Giuseppe Della Chiesa, the new chairman of the FEI eventing committee and the FEI eventing risk management advisor.

“Our major goal was to have a professional system to monitor and manage the risk in the sport, and we now have that. This is not an emotional reaction; it’s a structure that provides a systematic approach to managing the risks involved in our sport. There will still be accidents, but we can use this system to better manage the risk and keep it within acceptable and accepted levels.”

The action plan includes:

• A statistical database which will include medical and veterinary data on falls.
• A standardized template to achieve consistency in the collection of international data.
• Compulsory appointment of a National Safety Officer by all countries organizing international eventing competitions. The NSO will collate statistics and gather information for the FEI in the event of a serious accident.
• FEI guidelines on cross-country course design.
• 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.