Rotational fall charges reached an all-time low in worldwide eventing in 2022.
Final 12 months had a document variety of occasions and starters, with 788 competitions and 21,560 starters – a rise of 19.4% on the variety of competitions in 2021 and a 12.1% improve in starters.
FEI eventing committee chairman David O’Connor and FEI danger administration steering group chairman Geoff Sinclair introduced the info on the federation’s eventing danger administration discussion board in Jardy final month.
The headline determine was the drop in rotational fall charges. The proportion of starters having a rotational fall, which have the very best danger of damage for horse and rider, has decreased from 0.2% in 2011 to 0.07% final 12 months. This equates to a drop from one rotational fall each 510 starters to at least one in each 1,437 starters.
Charges of non-rotational horse falls at a cross-country fence will not be as little as they had been within the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, however are decrease than they had been pre-pandemic and considerably under 2011, which was the primary 12 months of “sensible dependable knowledge”.
Aside from the 2 pandemic years, 2022 additionally marked the bottom variety of horse falls and rotational falls in actual phrases since 2011.
Mr O’Connor stated the reductions are “to be congratulated” however “there’s nonetheless work to do”.
“Rotational falls have actually lowered by an incredible quantity – we’re at our lowest price,” he stated.
“All the pieces that we’re doing from course-design to shapes of fences and frangible know-how coming in, is what’s driving that quantity down.”
Mr O’Connor additionally voiced issues that he feels concussions could also be under-reported. The FEI has collected concussion knowledge since 2018. In 2022, 17 had been reported – 10 linked to critical damage and 7 to slight damage.
He added that his impression from coping with different horse sports activities is that the determine is “underrated”, and questioned whether or not that’s all the way down to the reporting course of or recognition of concussions.
You may also be curious about:
Credit score: Future
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Horse & Hound journal, out each Thursday, is full of all the newest information and studies, in addition to interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and coaching recommendation. Discover how one can take pleasure in the journal delivered to your door each week, plus choices to improve your subscription to entry our on-line service that brings you breaking information and studies in addition to different advantages.