ഀ
FEIഀ
PRESS RELEASE
Lausanneഀ
(SUI), 31 January 2011
FEIഀ
Eventing Risk Management Action Plan on target
Theഀ
FEI Eventing Risk Management Action Plan, which was launched in January 2010,ഀ
is on target, as shown by the steady decrease in the percentage ofഀ
Cross-Country falls.
Nationalഀ
Safety Officers (NSOs) from 22 nations who attended the FEI’s annual NSOഀ
seminar in Greenwich, London (GBR) on 29-30 January were shown provisionalഀ
statistics for 2010 which demonstrate that as numbers of international eventsഀ
and participants increase, the incidence of falls continues to decrease.
Sinceഀ
2005, the rate has dropped steadily from one Cross-Country fall per 17 startersഀ
to one in 19 in 2009-10. In 2009, there were 778 falls from 14,206 starters (anഀ
incidence of 5.48%); in 2010, this figure was 767 from 15,518 (4.94%). Theഀ
number of international events has grown from 318 in 2004 to 479 in 2010.
“Theഀ
statistics show that our vision for the Risk Management Action Plan was correctഀ
and that the systems we have put in place are moving in the right direction”,ഀ
commented Giuseppe Della Chiesa (ITA), Chair of the FEI Eventing Committee. “Itഀ
also shows the steady pace at which the sport is increasing worldwide and theഀ
fact that officials and competitors are working well together.
“Ofഀ
course, we are happy to have a growing Eventing community, but we must makeഀ
sure that these competitors who are coming into the sport and progressing up itഀ
are properly prepared for each level. Our priority is always to ensureഀ
competitors do not face any unnecessary risk in what inevitably will remain aഀ
risk sport.
“Theഀ
number of falls at 1* level, and the proportion of horse falls (240 in 2010),ഀ
is still of concern, as is the consistency of national methods ofഀ
record-keeping, and we are continually striving to find ways of educatingഀ
officials and riders, and standardising data collection throughout the world.”
Topicsഀ
for discussion by NSOs at the meeting included the implementation of new rules,ഀ
simplifying requirements for medical cards and national qualifying proceduresഀ
for CCI1*s. The major aim for this year is to produce a DVD to help everyoneഀ
involved in the sport (riders, owners, organising committees, Nationalഀ
Federations and officials) share a common vision of Cross-Country riding inഀ
line with the FEI Eventing Risk Management Policy.
Christinaഀ
Klingspor, representing the Swedish Federation, commented: “This weekend hasഀ
been really inspiring. It allows us to re-evaluate the progress we are makingഀ
and we can now go back to our country with new ideas.”
Peterഀ
Gray, Canada’s NSO, said: “Much of our Federation’s work in Canada revolvesഀ
around what I can take back from these annual meetings. They are reallyഀ
helpful, as everyone brings a different skill and viewpoint, and we have beenഀ
able to make great strides in improving the structure of our sport.”
Notesഀ
to editors:
Eventingഀ
constitutes an exciting and challenging all-round test of riding ability andഀ
horsemanship within an accepted and acceptable level of risk.
Everyഀ
effort must be made to ensure that, at each level, responsible athletes areഀ
participating with progressively trained horses in order not to be exposed to aഀ
higher risk than what is strictly inherent to the nature of the competition.
Aഀ
number of new FEI rules were put in place in 2010 to aid risk management,ഀ
including penalties for dangerous riding and the breaking of a frangibleഀ
obstacle or device. The rules for dangerous riding and abuse of the horse haveഀ
been separated for increased clarity. For Eventing Rule Changes for 2010, visitഀ
www.fei.org
Forഀ
the 2009 FEI Eventing Statistics Report
Mediaഀ
Contact:
Graniaഀ
Willis
ഀ
FEI Director Press Relations
ഀ
Tel: +41 787 506 142
ഀ
Email:
If you would rather not receive future communications fromഀ
Fédération Equestre Internationale, let us know by clicking
ഀ
Fédération Equestre Internationale, Av Mon-Repos 24, 1005 Lausanne, . .ഀ
Switzerland