Lights, Camera, Action! Future Of Video In Sport

Video has been touted as a way of moving equestrian sport forward and welcomed as a protective measure at shows

HOW video can be used to benefit horse sport has been in the spotlight this week after a major international show revealed it had installed surveillance cameras in a collecting ring.

Falsterbo Horse Show in Sweden, which hosts Nations Cup dressage and show jumping as well as national classes over nine days, had film cameras in the international dressage warm-up.

This follows some high-profile cases in which riders have been accused of abusive riding at shows.

Organising committee member Johan Lenz told H&H it was in the interest of openness, welfare and protection of the sport, and also to ensure the show had its own footage should any allegations be made.

Mr Lenz said they will “definitely” be doing it again.

“There is so much focus on dressage and the dressage warm up and I think filming is good support for the stewards and for everybody there,” he said.

He added it helps with the transparency of the sport, plus acts as protection for riders as an unpleasant static image of a moment does not necessarily mean the rider was doing anything wrong.

He said on the other hand if bad practices are happening, they want to be able to stop those, too.

‘POSITIVE MOVE’