Further to the Newsletter article on falls on the Cross-Country course.

The FEI have introduced “1 fall and out” rule in all FEI Events.

Australia, UK and USA have also introduced this rule at all levels.

In NZ, at the last ENZ AGM, the Technical Committee recommended adoption for Graded Classes only and retain the status quo (2 falls) for the lower classes. The Board did not make a decision and have now referred the issue back to the Technical Committee. In the interim the UK and Australia have adopted the rule for all classes.

At this stage the Technical Committee still have to make a recommendation to the Board and the Board have to make their decision.

The issue is not as simple as it appears – for example: - What about falls on the flat? At the practice fence? Riders with multiple horses etc.?

Personally, I do not see this as a great safety issue, certainly we need to eliminate horse falls and dangerous riding but this seems to me to be a knee-jerk reaction. The rule change to 3 faults in total in XC for Grade Classes addresses the issue of safety but unless the 1 fall rule is handled properly, I believe it has the capacity to destroy the sport.

However, International “best practice” has now been established and it is hard to see how NZ can avoid following suit.

If anyone has a comment on this extremely important issue or wishes to

discuss it, please contact me. 64 (3) 347 9426

Neil Mosley

TD Liaison

Eventing NZ Technical Committee

Neil has written since this that

Yesterday, British Eventing, in an uncharacteristic attack of common sense, reversed their initial decision to adopt the 1 fall and out rule.

In that event, it seems most unlikely that NZ will adopt the FEI rule. Pressure will now go on the Australian Federation to reconsider.