Are the safety issues from eventing spilling over into the jumping world?

How are the safety issues that have recently come up in the eventing world reflected in the jumping world? Have the accidents made you more aware of safety in everyday riding situations as well as at shows? Is there any talk of changing safety regulations for jumper shows?  Please feel free to respond to these questions and to bring your own thoughts to the forums. We look forward to participation from all of our community members.

Kara, when I think about Le Samurai, Amy Tryon's Holsteiner gelding that met his untimely end during competition, I think twice about what I ask my horse to do and guage it to his level of training as well as my own comfort level on that given day. It seems that most often I think more about my horse's safety and health than my own. Oddly enough, I rarely think about my own safety except when put in imminent danger and then well, whose fault is it that we're where we are? Clearly, I forgot the motto I learned in flying airplanes: "Use your superior judgment to have to keep from using your superior skill." I trust Logan to navigate situations and I've found I have to really assess our jumping courses according to what he can negotiate under my neophite guidance. Without me, he would be a star. That said, I always wear a helmet and have him booted up when we jump as well as have a clear picture of the expectation before we start on course to avoid indecision and tentative riding.

What changes is the USET making to raise the safety bar given the recent issues you mention?

Thanks,

Aly

The conversation in ongoing about what should be done about the accidents that have occurred recently. There have been many safety seminars as well as conversations and articles. I think that the final conclusions have not been made as of yet, but I'm sure that there will be no one solution. There are many factors to each accident and there will be no singular fix that will make everything better, and cure all problems. We do compete in a dangerous sport and some times we take that for granted.

Kara