Frangible trakehner fences for use at British occasion this week

New frangible trakehner fences shall be in use for the primary time at a British worldwide occasion this week.

Aspen Cooling Osberton Worldwide Horse Trials cross-country course-designer Stuart Buntine is amongst a workforce of individuals within the sport that has been working with Swedish inventor Mats Bjornetun, who’s behind the MIM security clip system used on many cross-country fences in eventing.

The log sits on a deformable construction, designed by Mr Bjornetun, which is similar variety because the system utilized in frangible tables. The supporting construction for the log is created to provide manner and collapse forwards and down if hit with power, with the general intention to forestall a horse from falling.

“Mats has been pushing all this ahead,” Mr Buntine informed H&H, crediting Mr Bjornetun for the “superb job” he’s doing in eventing security.

Two deformable trakehners will characteristic on Osberton’s (3–6 October) worldwide cross-country programs: one within the two-star lessons and one within the three-star.

One of many challenges in creating frangible know-how for heavier fences, equivalent to logs, is the load limits of the deformable gadgets. The massive logs in these trakehners have been hollowed out to cut back their weight. This additionally means the fence might be “reset” simply – a part of its design is that it’s hinged at every finish and it may be lifted again into place by two folks.

“It seems completely like a traditional trakehner, but it surely’s hole,” stated Mr Buntine, who can be director of BEDE Occasions, which organises Osberton. “What I’m actually eager to do is to push the know-how so far as we are able to, in order that we are able to go additional and additional into lowering dangers within the sport.”

In January, David Vos, a rider, aviation engineer and frangible system skilled, spoke on the FEI eventing seminar in regards to the newest information on severe horse falls per fence kind (information, 1 February). Dr Vos, who’s a member of the FEI danger administration steering group – as is Mr Buntine – stated that 90% of significant horse falls are at non-frangible fences.

“We have to proceed creating, transferring ahead at a reasonably wholesome clip to get extra frangible options accessible and a much bigger pool of accessible units for course-designers to make use of,” he stated on the time.

An FEI spokesperson informed H&H: “On the FEI, security in eventing stays a prime precedence, and improvements equivalent to frangible know-how have performed a key position in enhancing athlete and horse security.

“The introduction and continued use of frangible gadgets have confirmed efficient in considerably lowering horse falls, which helps decrease the danger of harm for each horses and athletes. This know-how, coupled with the applying of penalties when a tool is triggered, has additionally fostered better consciousness and inspired extra considerate, exact driving.”

The spokesperson stated you will need to notice that frangible know-how is only one a part of a broader danger administration technique and that though frangible know-how is a “important development” in eventing security, it isn’t a whole answer by itself.

He added that strategies equivalent to improved course design, the strategic use of floor traces and visible aids all contribute to lowering the variety of falls and guaranteeing the very best degree of security potential.

“FEI course-designers endure rigorous coaching to make sure they create programs that aren’t solely difficult but in addition meet security requirements. They’re skilled to make use of frangible know-how the place it’s handiest, alongside different security improvements,” stated the spokesperson, including that the emphasis all the time stays on designing protected, applicable fences from the outset.

“The FEI stays dedicated to consistently evaluating and updating security applied sciences and protocols to make sure that we proceed to minimise dangers as a lot as potential. Whereas some degree of danger is inherent in eventing, we attempt to make the game as protected as potential by way of ongoing enhancements.”

You may additionally be inquisitive about:

H&H senior information author

Lucy is an skilled information journalist, reporter and presenter. Since becoming a member of the Horse & Hound workforce 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 lined 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.