_____________________________ Have you been injured in Eventing? Take this survey for a study that is underway by a graduate student. ______________________________
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June 25, 2008 Getting Event Instructors certified. The call to get 500 instructors through the ICP is an important goal. To that end at least one west coast barn has offered free stabling for 20 each week and facilities to as many ICP workshops as USEA would like to hold over the rest of the year. Here is another effort that is going on. USEA Instructors Workshop in Area 1 Jun e 24, 2008 Article at the Humane Society Making Safety the Main Event, on eventing. A general call we are hearing (which we think USEA could mandate immediately) is to slow down the courses while we are figuring out what has gone wrong. June 17, 2008 - Another top CCI** horse, Task Master, dies after an injury in competition. Here is the discussion thread... it calls for the reality check of "really" it is time to call for a change in X country. Everyone must read this.... June 16, 2008 - A possible Dangerous Riding by juniors at a local event (read thread) and International CCI *** and CCI**** riders with falls of horses last weekend, including a rotational... see the AP photo below. How are the governing bodies going to create rider"watch lists"? June 14, 2008 - Horses keep falling... badly. AP Photo by Joerg Sarbach - Daylife
June 9, 2008 Safety summit writeups... It is a great start....NY times reports: Equestrian: U.S. Takes Further Steps to Improve Rider Safety After at least 14 riders have died in eventing competitions over the past year and a half, more moves toward making the sport safer. Editor note: we post what we find... here is a great comment at NY times "USEF, USEA and FEI go on, willingly and deliberataly, to overlook the main driver of Eventing worst Safety crisis ever : the implementation of the new ” short format ” 3 years ago and its fatal consequences, as explained here under !" read rest of comments under article Our hope is the USEA and USEF pass some of the proposed solutions bringing much needed change. Most important David Oconnor and all admitted there are serious problems in the sport... including a 50% increase in falls at some levels year over year. "We're here today because eventing is in trouble. Some would say the survival of the sport as we know it is really at stake,“ said John Long, CEO of the U.S. Equestrian Federation, the governing body of non-racing horse sports. "I am very committed to transparency in everything we do in this organization," Kevin Baumgardner, USEA president. "If we investigate an accident and come to a conclusion, then we need to say what that conclusion was." "Any tangible, visible changes to show they are seriously on the road to reform and improvement are important," Keith Dane, Equine protection arm of the Humane Society said Read more quotes at Kentucky.com article Practical Horseman review of the meeting. here is the Chronicle of the horse bulletin board discussion from attendees. June 6, 2008 Now things get interesting... It is obvious that with 8 great upper level horse deaths in the last few months that the big Upper Level horse owners would have to step in. The price of Event horses has skyrocketed (price tags of 1M have been rumored), the horses are often syndicated and lets face it... all these horses are insured! But... now the insurance products on the horses and certain riders are going to end up uninsureable if drastic changes aren't made. The current death rate and injury statistics for Upper Level Horses is horrible as you look back at the last 18 months. USEF Creates Eventing High Performance Owners Task Force Here is a GREAT LETTER that was sent to the safety summit! Everyone needs to read this... we will post limks to items as we become aware of them. Our top list, which we have forwarded to the summit is. 1. Peer review of all major injuries or deaths of horse or rider. Currently the USEA process is to create a wall of silence about rider deaths. Horse deaths are reviewed if it is reported under Welfare of the Horse within 10 days by a USEF member who witnessed it. We need to be able to ask for a peer review and have issues examined so trends can be identified. 2. Drastically improved Medical Response Planning. Injury Insurance Benefits for riders as part of our association. Larger death benefits and insurance for catastropic injury as well as insurance for Helicopters transport would be included. This exists in sports such as skiing, waterskiing, ATV racing and other risk sports where transport and critical care are crucial. Yes we need to make changes to make the sport safer, but we also need to handle the downside when it occurs. Currently junior riders receive 1500 in medical and 3500 in death benefits. Senior riders receive 50,000 in death. No transport insurance. By accepting these you waive all rights to any other claim... even if the event or association is in error.
3. Frangible pins or other technology that lets jumps come down.
4. Overhaul of event management, Trainer Certification, Jump judge requirements, course control, course design, FEI and USEA rule violations, rider qualification. There are many proposals under review. The current system doesn't work.
5. Trainers Sanctions also for Red FLagged riders under Welfare of the Horse. Most riders have Trainers.
6. Return to prior qualification for horse and rider after fall of horse.
May 29, 2008 Bravo to Laine. after her fall at Rolex, for her decisions with coach Buck Davidson to approach her return to the sport and her own athletic rebuild with safety and a sound plan. READ May 28, 2008 Sad news for all... Teddy O'Connor, loved sport pony and one of Karen's Olympic rides was euthanized this am after injuring himself. May 27, 2008 Advanced horse has rotational fall at Woodside. Since this is a USEA sanctioned event it is unclear if the nature of this rotational fall will be reported. Stats on falls of horses and riders are critical for understanding what is happening out on these courses. Photos (warning graphic) This could of been a tragedy. The pair were unhurt. There is a thread on this at Chronicle of the horse. Woodside protests photos!..
May 25, 2008 Should Trainers be sanctioned if their riders are sited for "unsafe riding"? This is an excellent question and one that should go to the safety summit. It has broad ramifications...in an olympic year for example. If it is determined at some point that a rider was going to fast, and her Trainer was sanctioned, the trainer couldn't compete in the mandatory Olympic selection outings etc....? This is worth discussing since clearly Riders ride under Trainers direction... especially the young riders.
May 22, 2008 Good letter from the professional horse council. It is a start. We would note that it doesn't address the overall issue of event management, jump judge qualification, Trainer Responsibility (it does say it will overhaul the red flag... how can a volunteer stop a horse coming into a jump at sometimes 800 mm anyway?) We suggest they look further to course design and other issues that have created this dangerous situation. Also.. the council fails to mention that two MORE riders have died during the period of time mentioned in the letter. Statement from the USEA Professional Horsemens' Council
Fantastic! USEF issues new rules on Falls of horse or rider. this is excellent news because it takes effect immediately. We understand there are other rule suggestions under consideration. Please let us know your top issues and we will forward them in.
Parents Sue Over Equestrian’s Death, Raising Safety Issues
New York Times, United States - “Mia for the USEA is a statistic, but she is really so much more than that,” said her mother, “I stepped forward to file a lawsuit trying to in a way voice all of the concerns we’re feeling at the level of eventing to press for change... Eventing is in a crisis...Jim Wofford Has written a very timely article. Jim Wofford: Eventing Lives in the Balance
Why are event horses falling and, sometimes, dying? Olympian Jim Wofford suggests some answers in this Practical Horseman online exclusive. ...Jim Wofford makes a valid point....can you really pull and tug a horse to the right "spot".. especially at rapidly changing speeds? Watch these upper level riders try to do it...you tell me...BTW! there are "some" good rides here....can you see the difference?
May 2008 - Sadly, another top horse , Tigger Too, was killed at the Jersey Fresh CCI ***. This one belonged to David O'connor and was ridden by a young rider. Luckily she escaped injury. Horse was 17 years old....why are these older horses still out there... Task Force, another top horse was also recently killed in Warmup at a CCI. developing... Photo link for Tigger Too Fall Warning graphic.... After Kentucky Derby Tragedy, Humane Society weighs in on Eventing and Horse Racing The Price the horses pay - April 2008
photo from Kentucky.com of Frodo at Rolex 2008 Horse from Lord of the Rings movie Euthanized at Rolex 2008. Another Top Horse was euthanized by this rider after injury in upper level competition last year -May 2007. Rider, Laine Ashker (24) remains in critical condition. Course designer at Rolex 2008, Michael Etherington-Smith to resign from Course design This was announced in Feb of 2008. Michael Eftheringotn-Smith was also course designer at Galway Downs where Mia Eriksson was killed. Brits Etherinton-Smith and Capt Phillips were designers on US courses where 6 horses have died this year. American eventing safety proposals stir heated debate... Michael Efferington Smith calls the rules "over the top". Capt Phillips says a country "shouldn't go off on a tangent..." about being safe? Get real... horses and riders are dying out there. There is something you can do! Call The death of Eight Belles after she came in second in the Kentucky Derby and of two horses at Rolex in April has been a one-two punch to the Kentucky Commonwealth's marquee equine events. Although horse racing and three-day eventing are furlongs apart in practice and competition, the sight of injured and dying horses traumatize fans and hurt the image of Kentucky's signature industry. "We are hearing from a very large number of people today saying that they can't watch it," said Keith Dane, director of equine protection at the Humane Society of the United States. "Everyone is concerned and everyone wants change." Because of the prestige of both these events, they attract huge numbers of spectators -- 100,000 over the three days of Rolex and 157,000 at the Derby -- and are broadcast to a wide television audience as well. And Eight Belles' death on the track came just two years after Barbaro's well-documented breakdown and eventual euthanasia. (reprinted from Kentucky.com) Want to do something? Call Keith Dane, Director of Equine Protection Humane Society and leave him a voice mail!
US News and World weighs in - Should this sport be stopped till changes are in place? there is an open comment board here... got an opinion? post it here! April 2008 - Rider Injured And Two Horses Euthanized At Rolex A rider is hospitalized in critical condition after a fall at the Rolex Three-Day Event in Lexington, and two horses have to be euthanized. Twenty-four-year-old Laine Ashker, a rider in the Rolex, is hospitalized, and at last report in critical, but stable, condition, after being injured in a fall Saturday at the equine event. The "Herald Leader" reports her horse, Frodo Baggins, was so seriously injured so that he was euthanized.
Editor Note: there have been several postings from Course designers, Coaches and top USEF officials stating that the sport has "more riders" (which they are alluding means more injuries). The reality is that all the deaths of horses and riders are at upper levels and are riders that have been in the sport for years. We know of at least one parent of an upper level rider who has been trying to get USEF or USEA to publish their open letter on safety to the equestrian community without success.... while after each death another "message" from someone in authority is published. April 2008 - Breaking News - 2 Deaths!- Rider killed at Event in Austria. Another Event Rider Killed...this time in Ireland. This has got to stop!
Notice: Enought deaths! A litigation is pending. If you or your horse has been injured at any event please send your info to webmaster@eventing.zzn.com and we will forward it. USEA president weighs in with MORE safety "task forces" and acknowledges that riders and the general membership of eventing are upset...the sport has become too dangerous and the old guard who pushed for these deadly courses were wrong. Read this it is inexcusable that these groups of our "leaders" have been "meeting" continually while 12 deaths have occured.
Horse Injuries? Lets talk about that also! This photo was courtesy of Regardinghorses.com, and was not at the courses listed above...it is an example of the serioushness of these falls. Beaking News March 15, 2008. Darren Chiaccia was seriously injured in a fall at Red Hills Florida. Two horses were also killed at the event. Update april 2- Darren is heading to a special hospital, updates on him at EventRider. Editor note - Private donations have been pouring into Darren, over 200K to date. We know that other families who have had riders killed were expressly turned down by USEA insurance within days of incidents and have had to bear the expensive of these expensive preventable hospitalizations and deaths. Equisure is the insurance of USEA and most of the events. We have read letters that they have sent families and all riders should be aware that they may not pay, nor be compasionate.
Breatking news: Nov 2007 - Another Young Rider (21) dies in a CCI ** When will USEF step in and make the necessary changes mandatory versus "saftey committees" and suggestions? The majority of Deaths over the last 13 months (13 deaths in 14 months have been young riders in the CCI**, 4 CCI ** deaths total! ) Please send an email to skeating@usef.org and express your concerns! In this accident the horse was killed also! Read about the issues surrounding "short format" and other problems at the bottom of this page. FEI looks again at eventing safety following another rider's death Zara Phillips devasted by friends death
Eventing Kills Horses! Here is another horrendous fall where the horse didn't die, but ... World Eventing Champion Zara Phillips takes a horrendous fall in June of 2007. click to see what happened to her horse. This photo series shows how hard this sport is on the horses as well as the riders.
Eventing Sept 2007 - Another Death! read USEF steps in with Safety Measures! read Will this help stop the half baked events where corners are cut and events are understaffed or where Emergency Medical Response is too far from hospitals etc? Aug 2007 - 3rd Death in 2 weeks! German Novice Equestrian Rider Killed on Cross Country read Another CCI ** death - German Event rider killed read July 2007 - CCI ** young swedishevent rider 19, killed on Cross Country read Editors Note - As of this date neither the USEA (official cross country site) or the USEF web site have the notice of these deaths. They have also removed all of the other press releases on Cross Country Deaths even though the international governing body is looking into the safety of eventing (see article at bottom of page) The overall question seems to be; Has the new Short Format made Eventing Deadly. This format was put in to make Eventing more "exciting" and to avoid having the sport dropped by the Olympics. 10 deaths this year and numerous paralizing injuries, along with horse deaths has sparked the debate. We are making an IMMEDIATE CALL to all event ORGANIZERS to use frangible pins or other methods to reduce somersaults.... the deaths to date this year were primarily from somersaults!
Chronicle of the Horse has weighed in with an Eventing Safety Survey. over 47% of the respondends to date feel the amount of injuries have changed how they feel about eventing. There is also a graduate student program underway to understand what riders or those associated with riders feel about Eventing injuries. Click here to participate if you have had an eventing injury or witnessed one. Recent comments : Jessica, (Voted for option 2, on 2007-07-30) Kevin, (Voted for option 2, on 2007-07-30) Michelle, (Voted for option 1, on 2007-07-29) Judith, (Voted for option 3, on 2007-07-31) Jo,(Voted for option 1, on 2007-08-01) Kim,(Voted for option 1, on 2007-07-31) Pam, (Voted for option 1, on 2007-07-28) Barb, (Voted for option 1, on 2007-07-28) Babs, (Voted for option 1, on 2007-07-27) Sue, (Voted for option 2, on 2007-07-27) (Editors Note: In light of all the injuries and deaths it is clear there is a problem out on the courses and possibly with the new short format. FEI has moved to understand the safety problem. One parent has put USEA on legal notice (left column), USEA has started an overall eventing review task force. Be sure to get your input in by writing to them. We are putting together an over all list of suggestions in the right hand column.... send us your thoughts!)The scope of the new safety committee is very broad highlighting the issues that are facing Eventing. Parents and Riders need to know exactly what they can do to file complaints and or get thieir concerns included while this is being sorted out. Remember.... everything takes time so Parents and Riders need to do their part and actively file complaints and concerns... see What can you do? in the right hand column. Have a safety concern? Email us at Editor@eventing.zzn.com and we will forward it to the safety committee as well as list it here. FEI Eventing Safety Commitee to Review Cross Country IssuesThe Committee will:
Prevention
Analysis
Management
Official FEI Press ReleaseMore Background USEA BLOG on the topic. Please Read Parent Put USEA on Notice. Article in the left column Have something you want to share on this topic? email: editor@eventing.zzn.com ___________________ Eventing deaths prompt FEI safety reviewThe International Equestrian Federation (FEI) is to undertake a major review of eventing following the recent spate of rider deaths in the sport.
Seven riders have died while eventing around the world in the past 10 months, the most recent being Julie Silly at Jardy in France (news, 10 May) and Jo-Anne Williams at Sapey (news, 26 April). The deaths have occurred at events from novice to advanced.
"We will look at prevention, analysis and medical response," said US rider David O'Connor, who is chairing the FEI safety sub-committee set up last week. "We want to see what we can do to prevent accidents, whether there is a common thread to falls, and will look at how we do things worldwide when an accident has occurred."
"I think we will stumble on something we haven't been doing. For example, we only currently use frangible pins and brushes, and there are other technologies out there we are not researching." he said.
Acting sports director Mike Etherington-Smith told H&H: "The FEI is now doing what we have been doing in the UK for some time and it's long overdue." Have something to say or a safety suggestion for Eventing? email David O-conner - doconner@USEF.org
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List of Eventing Riders injured or Killed recently As of April 2008 - 14 Eventing Rider Deaths
More detailed information about these deaths is available at Eventing Percheron we had posted it here after it had been mailed to us. We did not know it had been printed prior. Sherelle Duke (IRE), 28, 08/20/06, Kim Hyung Chil (KOR), 47, 12/07/06 Amanda Bader (USA), 51, 02/17/07 Amelie Cohen (FRA), 30, 03/11/07
Tina Richter-Vietor (GER) , 32, 08/04/07 Anke Wolfe (GER), 40, 08/15/07, Maia Boutanos (FRA), 29, 09/01/07 Karen Rodgers, 41 (UK) 04/21/08, Ballingdeinsk CNC**, rotational fall, Death
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