US Equestrian Adds Support for Frangible Technology Requirements

Photo courtesy of ERA International

National federations, events and organizations continue to speak up in support of the USEA’s recent statement calling for compulsory use of frangible technology on all open rail fences, gates, oxers and oxer corners on cross country. US Equestrian announced yesterday where they stand on the matter.

“The United States Equestrian Federation supports the recent statement made by our Eventing Affiliate, the United States Eventing Association, regarding the use of reverse frangible technology,” USE said in a statement. “The welfare and safety of our equine and human athletes must always be our highest priority and we appreciate the efforts being made by the USEA to study this issue and make recommendations that support this priority.”

Tattersalls International Horse Trials added their support this week also. Event Director Jean Mitchell MBE released a statement saying, “At Tattersalls, we strongly believe that that the time has come for the FEI to make full use of the already approved, available and suitable ‘frangible technology’ by making it ‘compulsory’ for the types of fences that are appropriate – rather than simply to ‘recommend’ their use!”

In addition, the Event Riders Association of North America shared the following on Facebook: “The Eventing Riders Association of North America stands firmly alongside the USEA in their recommendation…The ERA of NA works to improve the overall safety, welfare, visibility and the growth of the sport of eventing and in this spirit believes current safety technologies should be utilized at all times.”

The USEA’s original October 18 statement read:

“The time has come to take a stronger stance on the usage of frangible technology in the sport of eventing. We as the leaders of the sport have the moral obligation to say that the time for use of all currently available safety technology is now.

“With that in mind, the USEA Cross-Country Safety Sub-Committee strongly recommends that the FEI mandates rather than strongly recommends that all open rail fences, gates, oxers and oxer corners must be built using reverse frangible technology. The time is now.”

The Canadian Eventing Committee, International Eventing Officials Club, and Badminton Horse Trials and have also cast their support for the initiative.

North America Leads Charge for Mandatory Use of Frangible Technology

Badminton Casts Support for Compulsory Use of Frangible Technology