Anyone want an eventing update?
I just got an update e-mail from the USEA. The following changes are taking place:
A fall off a horse used to be 65 penalty points and the second fall would be elimination. The first fall is now elimination. Any references to helping riders back on horses or anything has been eliminated.
The first fall of a horse is mandatory retirement.
If a rider is apparently injured or concussed, they must be examined by a medical professional to determine if they can continue or ride another horse. Refusal results in a $100 fine.
Obstacles for which frangible technology is available must be built with frangible pins - this technology allows the cross country jumps to rotate. Jumps already built must be retrofited with this technology before December 1, 2009.
More rules may change after the safety summit. The committee is also working on a 'red card' system to penalize dangerous riding.
The 'retirement' was just for that show. It is the term used in eventing for pulling a horse from the rest of the show - for that day. Not as in throwing a horse out to pasture - I should have been more clear.
The falling is a rider falling off a horse.