40 Factors influencing the activation of frangible devices and their impact on fall risk in eventing cross country

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Frangible devices were introduced to cross country fences in 2003 to improve safety by reducing the risk of rotational falls which cause the most serious injuries and fatalities in horses and riders. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors influencing the activation of frangible devices on cross country jumps. Five hundred cross country rounds from 16 FEI CCI2* to CCI5* events, were retrospectively observed using video recordings from ClipmyHorseTV. Notational analysis was used to record the factors that lead to device activation or falls. Factors included the fence number, frangible device present, the type of fence, gradient of fence, combination fence or water jump. Frangible devices were present on 15.45% of fences including uprights, open and closed corners, tables, skinnies, trakheners and oxers. Horses were 1.3 times (O.R.) more likely to hit a fence containing a frangible device. Most collisions with frangible fences did not result in activation of the frangible pin (88.9%) and the horse continued without. Device activation was most common at upright and open corner fences on level ground. No activation occurred at frangible device fences involving water. Most deviceswere activated on level ground and horses were 8 times (O.R.) less likely to activate a frangible device when colliding with a downhill fence. Horses were 9.6 times (O.R.) more likely to fall at a frangible device fence when the device was activated than without activation. There were 7 rotational falls observed and 2 of these occurred at frangible device fences. Spearman coefficient analysis showed that there was strong correlation (Rs = 0.83, P = 0.08) between water being present at a fence and a fall occurring. There were no frangible activations at fences involving water. Frangible devices appear to reduce the severity of falls rather than preventing them completely. Falls were observed at fences that did not contain a frangible device therefore increasing the number of frangible fences on the course could help reduce the number of horse falls. Further research is needed to understand the biomechanics of horse falls when a frangible fence is activated to adapt effectiveness of the devices.