Delegates split into working groups and were asked to each produce two recommendations which would take the safety debate forward on a practical level.

Although it was agreed that education of riders and officials remains a priority, it was also felt that riders must be responsible for riding in a way that is respectful to the fences. International riders, Eric Smiley (IRL) and Andrew Nicholson (NZL) expressed the importance that riders retain the idea of “respect” for the jumps whilst riding cross-country.

It was agreed that experimentation with frangible fence structures must continue and that these types of fences be used wherever appropriate. “We owe it to riders to test material that can reduce the possibility of a rotational fall,” said Carl Bouckaert (BEL), the rider representative on the FEI Eventing Committee.

“The frangible pin [which is used in Britain and America] is the only thing which has been scientifically tested, and is therefore the only tool we have to prevent the rotational fall without changing the nature of the sport. We recommend that the FEI implements this system world-wide – on fences such as the back rail of an oxer, coffins and sunken roads. We have the technology – we must use it” stated Mark Phillips (GBR), the American team trainer, who reported on cross-country design, along with discussion group members which included Pierre Michelet (FRA), Derek di Grazia (USA), Rudiger Schwarz (GER), Mike Etherington-Smith (GBR) and Giuseppe Della Chiesa (ITA).

It was suggested that a more sophisticated system of data collection of cross-country statistics by each federation be funded and managed by the FEI. David O’Connor asked that FEI Eventing Committee Chairman, Wayne Roycroft (AUS) take the proposal to the FEI Bureau meeting in April. The current data that has been collected over the last 5 years, which reveals that the most serious accidents occur at one and two-star level, does not include national competition statistics nor a breakdown of fence statistics for the different levels of competition.

Another topic on the agenda was safety equipment and rider protection. Christopher Bartle (UK), German team trainer, reported to the forum that there needs to be investment on the testing of equipment that is sport specific, such as helmets and body protectors, and that there should be more openness in allowing new manufacturers to produce approved new ideas for the sport. Bartle also talked about the way to fall safely and the implications of riding with stirrups too long and the various types of saddles used and their influence on way a rider falls.

The course-designers also said that all portable fences must be fixed into the ground; that dimensions for measuring top spreads must be defined, and that one set of rules must be set for combination fences with black flags. They would also like to aim for a maximum of one jumping effort per 100m in CICs and for an extra five efforts to be permitted at CCIs in an effort to steady riders up on courses with flat terrain.

A suggestion which was met with a mixed response was that riders incur 5 penalties for knocking out a flag. It was felt by some that this would encourage riders to ride faster to make up for the penalties. “Think about it,” said Mark Phillips. “If it were a rule, would it make you ride better? If the answer is yes, it has to be a good thing. We need to instil the attitude in riders that cross-country is about jumping between the flags and that riders should respect the fence.”

Yogi Briesner (SWE) British team manager reported on the licensing of riders and education. He said licensing of riders, which is now being carried out in countries like France, is too complicated to process. Briesner also commented that falls of a rider needs to be reported back to the rider’s national federation by the Sunday evening so that the riders can be restricted from competing in national events if necessary.

David O’Connor felt that the forum had been a success. “We’ve heard some very good conversation. Rider education, rider responsibility and rider respect is a major part of the way forward for a safer sport. We must also welcome the new ideas in fence construction; experimentation with deformable structures clearly works in reducing horse falls. And I will be asking the FEI to make data collection and more direct communication with national federations a priority. “But the education side has to come from the national federations who will need to get programmes in place; this debate has to be driven nationally. We have had some of the best brains in the sport here today, and I am very excited about the high level of discussion and its usefulness for the future.”