The USEA Board of Governors has voted to recommend that the much debated and opposed single rider fall elimination rule be revised to only apply to prelim and above. The pre-2008 rules allowing riders to continue on course with 65 penalties following the first fall of rider would now apply to training level and below. However, this rule change has not been made official yet. The rule change proposal will be submitted to the USEF Eventing Technical Committee for consideration, as the rule change is ultimately under the authority of the USEF. It will be debated at the USEA annual meeting this year and then at the USEF annual meeting in January. If the rule change is approved, it will become effective December 1, 2012. Of course the new rule would only apply to US national competitions and not FEI events. The rule change recommendation is based on a variety of factors including professional and amateur feedback and an analysis of British Eventing fall data. Today’s USEA Press Release explains:
“A detailed analysis of British Eventing data gathered prior to 2008 led that organization to conclude that “there is no evidence to suggest that preventing riders from continuing on the cross country course after they have had an Unseated Rider Fall would have any noticeable effect in reducing the risk of serious injury to riders.” Based on on that data and on “further discussion with medical advisors,” British Eventing decided to allow a rider “to continue after a fall at a cross-country fence, if safe to do so,” according to remarks made by Iain Graham, Chairman of British Eventing, to the Horse and Hound.”
This rule change can definitely be viewed as the USEA Board listening to its constituents. In June, we ran a poll on Eventing Nation asking if our readers supported the one rider fall rule. 70% of respondents voted “no” and the majority of US eventers are about to get their wish.
I have never had an incredibly strong feeling one way or the other on the one rider fall rule and I think proponents on both sides of the issue have made good points. On one hand, you hate to see someone get back on and fall 4 fences later, and on the other hand you hate to see someone fall off a nappy pony at the 4th fence, land on their feet, and then have to walk home. But, I support the rule change for a few reasons:
1) The USEA looked at statistical data from British Eventing. This is always more compelling to me than anecdotal stories or hypothetical worst case scenarios.
2) Officials are of course still free to stop anyone at any point for dangerous riding.
3) Any rider is still free to implement a personal one fall rule by simply making it their own policy to stop after one fall if they feel that is the safest policy.
4) Give the people what they want.
5) Go eventing.
