Growing Calls For Frangible Fences To Be Compulsory

‘The time is now’ for rules to make the safety devices mandatory on all suitable fences, international bodies agree

- Rachael Turner

SUPPORT is mounting for the United States Eventing Association’s (USEA) calls for frangible technology to be compulsory at FEI events.

USEA’s cross-country safety sub-committee has “strongly recommended” the FEI rules that all open rail fences, gates, oxers and oxer corners must be built using reverse frangible technology.

“The time has come to take a stronger stance on the use of frangible technology,” a USEA spokesman said. “We as leaders of the sport have the moral obligation to say that the time for use of all available safety technology is now.”

International Eventing Officials Club chairman Andy Griffiths echoed the call.

“If we can reduce the risk of rotational falls then surely we should be doing it,” he told H&H.

“This has been our stance for the past 10 years. The FEI keeps saying it’s only part [of the safety issue] but rotational falls are what causes deaths. Mistakes can happen to anybody so it’s common sense [to use frangibles], it’s like wearing a seatbelt.”

Badminton Horse Trials released a statement (25 October) also backing the call.