Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
The U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF), in collaboration with the United States Eventing Association (USEA), has announced a new national review process for innovative frangible cross-country jump designs. This initiative aims to support and streamline the evaluation and potential use of novel frangible devices at the national level within the United States.
The new process allows for the evaluation of new frangible device concepts to determine whether they meet the minimum performance standards established by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). Notably, the national process will not require devices to comply with the mass production provisions included in the FEI standards, offering flexibility for unique and small-scale innovations.
This national-level process is designed to encourage domestic innovation by providing a pathway for designers, engineers, builders, and organizers to introduce and validate frangible technology suited to national competitions. Until now, approval was available only through the FEI for international use. This new structure will provide the possibility of a timely review and potential approval for use in U.S. national events.
“We look forward to the launch of this program. Minimizing the risk within the sport for athletes and horses is always a top priority for both organizations” said USEF Managing Director for Eventing Amber Braun.
Applications for frangible device review will be accepted through a submission link on the USEF website.
Rusty Lowe, USEA Vice President of Safety and USEA Board of Governors member at-large, has served as a liaison to the USEA BOG for all USEA safety committees and is looking forward to the advances that can be made in the United States through this new process.
“We’re excited about it because frangible technology is one of the biggest aspects of safety in our sport for cross-country,” he said. “Frangible technology has been proven in the United States and worldwide. It has been shown to reduce injuries and deaths in the sport. This is another way for us in the United States to work with new ideas, new innovations, and work to improve safety on cross-country.”
Members of the USEF/USEA National Frangible Device Review Committee will include:
Marc Grandia
Marc Grandia is a seasoned eventing professional with a rich background in both competing and course design. He has competed through the four-star and Advanced levels of eventing, providing him with a deep understanding of the sport’s demands and intricacies. Grandia has designed for West Coast events, implementing significant changes to the cross-country courses, including the introduction of new fences and optimized tracks that leveraged the venue’s rolling terrain to enhance the complexity and educational value for competitors.
Grandia has served as a member of the USEA Cross-Country Safety Subcommittee since 2022, actively contributing to the evaluations of cross-country safety and was appointed as chair in 2024.
Dr. Kaitlin Spak, PhD, P.E.
Dr. Kaitlin Spak received her PhD from Virginia Tech in 2014 based on her work modeling the structural dynamics of space flight cables. Since then, she joined Exponent, an engineering and scientific consulting company, and she currently serves as their Office Director and Principal Engineer. She has a distinct interest in the work being conducted to identify new and innovative frangible designs as she is an avid equestrian and enjoyed eventing during years of membership in the United States Pony Club and intercollegiate equestrian sports.
In addition to competing in eventing, hunter/jumpers, and dressage, she has enjoyed polo, foxhunting, and barrel racing. She has been a member of the USEA Cross-Country Safety Subcommittee since 2017. She has been actively involved with evaluating cross-country safety, including frangible design over that period, to include experience in the field evaluating fence design and implementation. Through connections at Virginia Tech, she has led the USEA’s involvement in cross-country safety vest and helmet research with the university since its inception.
In 2024, she and her horse Hemingway competed at the GAIG/U.S. Dressage Federation Region 5 Dressage Championships in Colorado at second level and qualified for and competed at US Dressage Finals in Kentucky.
Tyson Rementer
Tyson Rementer has established himself as a leading course builder in the eventing community, continually enhancing the sport’s safety, complexity, and aesthetic appeal. Since 2003, he’s pursued course building full-time, contributing to numerous prestigious events including both U.S. five-star competitions. Rementer has collaborated with esteemed designers such as Derek di Grazia and Ian Stark, contributing to the development of world-class courses that challenge and inspire competitors as well as taking the initiative to lead the construction of over 100 new cross-country jumps at regional venues, ensuring national competitions are able to maintain hosting the eventing community.
Rementer has been a proactive advocate for integrating frangible technology into cross-country course design, emphasizing rider and horse safety. He works with course designers to find new and interesting ways to utilize the latest safety technology into different types of fences.
For more information about the national frangible device review process and to submit a design for evaluation, please visit: https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/Li9md8liXJA/us-eventing-national-frangible-device
