Frangibles will not be made compulsory

The FEI says it needs more evidence before it imposes a rule on mandatory frangible cross-country fences

- Rachael Turner

THE FEI’s decision not to make the use of frangible cross country fences compulsory has divided opinion. The governing body confirmed it would not be introducing the rule on 7 December, despite recommendations from its risk management steering group.

“While rotational horse falls have decreased dramatically, there is evidence — as highlighted in the Barnett report [which examined data from cross-country horse falls at FEI events from 2010 to 2014] — that the number of horse falls in general is higher at fences fitted with frangible technology,” an FEI spokesman explained.

“Although clearly it could be the question rather than the frangible technology that is causing these falls, more information and data is needed to understand this horse fall rate.

“We need to have a better understanding of this evidence, and where it fits into the overall picture, before we can consider making the use of frangible technology mandatory.”

The news comes as Equestrian Australia announced frangibles must be used on suitable fences in one- to four-star courses in Australia from February 2018.